By Alexander Bruzual Saturday, November 21 2009

Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) vice president Trevor Townsend yesterday condemned calls by the People’s Democracy for the working public to stay home on Monday and Tuesday, saying it would be counter productive to the economic growth of the country.

Speaking to reporters following a ceremony at Crowne Plaza, Port-of-Spain, Townsend said the action would cause more harm to the country than good.

“We just had an announcement of a third quarter of negative growth. We have a situation where a number of entities have cut back on labour and operations, leading to increasing unemployment,” Townsend explained.

“So in the face of all that, we (TTMA) don’t advocate a situation where we could have lower production or loss of further earnings on either part of employee or employer. We don’t support that at all,” he added.

Despite this, Townsend was quick to point out that the association shared the same concerns with the people of this country as it related to crime, future taxes and reports of mismanagement of funds.

However, he said there were other ways to get the Government’s attention and he once again reiterated calls for a tripartite meeting between the State, the labour movement, and the business sector.

We have to continue to press for the changes and it can still be done through tripartite arrangements,” Townsend said.

Meanwhile via a press release yesterday afternoon, the Employers’ Consultative Association warned what could be the consequences for employees if they stayed at home. According to the release, the Industrial Relations Act of 1972, does not compel any employer in the absence of agreement to the contrary to pay or compensate any worker for any time not spent in performance of the duties of his employment.

The Act also does not impose any obligation to pay for any services as a worker that are withheld as a result of strike action, and the release was clear to point out that “a call to stay at home for two days can be considered a strike action.”

The Act further imposes a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment for six months for any worker who is absent from their office and provides a fraudulent medical certificate.