Educate workers on their rights

Dear Editor,

This is an open letter to the Minister of Labour Derrick Kellier:

Why is it not mandatory that companies inform workers/employees of their rights under the labour laws when they are employed by the organisation?

Further, if it is a fight to get companies to do that, why then have you not launched a campaign to let employees know to collect a handbook from you?

Do you realise how many employees out there have not a clue as to what their rights are under the labour laws? Why has something not been done to inform workers/employees of such issues?

Please remember, Minister, that labour laws are not taught in schools, and so many people come out into the working world and experience a kind of 'slavery' that the uninformed must endure. I believe you do not know the many pains that a lot of employees out there are undergoing, and nothing really proactive is being done by the Ministry of Labour. Employees are not being protected and are truly feeling pain. If they speak up they will lose their jobs, and some bosses 'push things down their throats', or skilfully do it in such a nice way to let it not seem like slavery.

Michael Manley and Hugh Shearer worked so hard for employees to be protected against 'backra mentality'. They put in so many labour laws for protection of employees, but it seems both the Ministry of Labour and the trade unions have been bought into silence.

Michelle Pink

Eltham Park, St Catherine

pinkwhiz@yahoo.com

Educate workers on their rights

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