Strengthening labour legislation and social dialogue identified as priority areas for ILO support in Grenada

During a recent mission to Grenada, ILO Caribbean Director Dr Joni Musabayana and a team of specialists met with tripartite constituents to address gaps in the national labour landscape and chart a way forward for finding solutions. 

The four-day mission (29 April – 1 May 2024) featured engagements with the Honourable Claudette Joseph, Minister of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs; Sparkle Grenada, Labour Commissioner (Ag.); Bert Paterson, General Secretary of the Grenada Trade Union Council (GTUC); Andre Lewis, President of GTUC; Merryl Lord, Board Member of the Grenada Employers Federation (GEF); Ann Marie Montrose, Management Committee Member of the GEF; Abena Peters, Research Officer at the GEF; Kenitha Paul, Director of Statistics at the Central Statistics Office (CSO); and Dorsett Cromwell, Director of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). 

Key priority areas identified by constituents focused on building a stronger foundation for the labour market by closing gaps in ILO Convention ratifications and reporting; improving the Labour Code and other labour laws; preparing young workers for emerging sectors; increasing capacity in data management; and enhancing the quality of social dialogue for dispute resolution. 

At the invitation of GTUC, the ILO team also marked May Day in Grenada. While speaking to the audience of GTUC members, Dr Joni Musabayana emphasized that tripartite cooperation is essential to the wellbeing of all workers in Grenada. He urged the Government, employers and trade unions to continuously work together to develop and implement solid labour laws that protect workers’ rights. 

 “I urge you comrades to work together to ensure that the legal framework that guarantees your rights, which is the labour law, is up-to-date and fit for purpose. This is a challenge that I hope next year when we are here, you will be able to say we made progress in,” explained Dr. Musabayana. 

“We at the ILO look forward to working with you in making sure that all workers whether in the private sector, the public sector, in the informal economy are sufficiently protected and they can all look forward to retirement with dignity,” he continued. 

More information about the ILO’s work in Grenada is available here.