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alexk
Guest
Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus is leading a T&T delegation at the 107th International Labour Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The conference, which began yesterday, held annually, convenes to discuss varying labour issues and standards that should be adopted by Member States of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
This year, the agenda items include discussions on technical labour-related issues inclusive of topics such as violence and harassment against women and men in the world of work which is timely as the ministry has recently drafted its National Workplace Policy on sexual harassment.
A statement from the ministry said the representation of T&T at the conference will strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development to pursue the objectives of the National Development Policy of T&T, with particular reference to the promotion of decent work, sustainable development and upholding the commitments of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
It said this country serves to benefit greatly from the conclusions and guidelines of the conference as these outcomes can strengthen the platform for achieving targets related to improving decent work.
Participation in the conference will also enhance the profile of T&T as an active participant in the international effort to place people at the centre of development.
The International Labour Conference (ILC) is a highly-recognised international forum which brings together approximately 5,000 representatives of government, employers and workers of ILO Member States in the only United Nations tripartite forum to discuss labour issues of international importance and to negotiate conventions and recommendations which establish international labour standards.
The T&T delegation also includes secretary in the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour of the Tobago House of Assembly Marslyn Melville-Jack, permanent representative of T&T to the United Nations, Geneva Makeda Antoine-Cambridge, counsellor at the Permanent Mission of T&T to the United Nations Geneva Garvin Pettier, chairman of the Employers’ Consultative Association Keston Nancoo and general secretary of the National Trade Union Center (NATUC) Michael Annisette.
All representatives are in accordance with the Constitution of the ILO where there must be representation from employers’ and workers’ organisations.