Tuesday, July 10 2012

IT IS important for local and Caribbean jurists and practitioners of industrial relations to come together to deal with issues of growing retrenchment, unemployment and industrial unrest at the local, regional and international levels.

This sentiment was shared yesterday by Minister of Labour Errol McLeod and President of the Caribbean Court of Justice Dennis Byron at the opening of a five-day Third Caribbean Course on International Labour Standards for judges, lawyers and legal educators at the Hyatt Regency.

The Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO) which facilitated the course was represented by Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henr, Director, ILO Standards Department, and Dr Giovani Di Cola, Officer-in-Charge, ILO Decent Work Team.

Noting that legal systems in the region were varied, McLeod said without attempting to reinvent the wheel, “we can still achieve this goal by seeking to find common ground within our respective jurisdictions.”

The umbrella body to ensure compliance with international standards of labour the International Labour Organisation, he noted offers assistance in the formulation and revision of labour legislation.

In brief remarks, Byron said that as the challenges of high unemployment affect local economies due to economic stagnation, “the role of law becomes more important.”

As industrial unrest affects TT due to a shrinking economy, he said, “the Industrial Court of TT has to play a very important role to pay.”

“The Caribbean Court of Justice is mandated,” he said, “to assist in the development of prudent jurisprudence, and the industrial and labour arms being critical to economic development and social stability, is part of this process.”