Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 18, 2019 (SKNIS): With the changing landscape in the world of work in countries around the world, St. Kitts and Nevis is doing its part to ensure that local workers are prepared to adapt to the dynamics of a new environment and seize the benefits that are created.
This was a key point raised by the Senior Minister and Minister of Labour, the Honourable Vance Amory, as he addressed the General Assembly at the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference earlier today (Tuesday, June 18, 2019). The meeting is taking place from June 10-21 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Some of the factors driving the transformation in occupational areas include demography, technological improvements, climate change and the continued growth of robotics and artificial intelligence.
“In St. Kitts and Nevis, we have begun the process of encouraging our people to prepare for the inevitable change in the structure of work by developing programmes of training and retraining our people to equip them for the future of work,” Senior Minister Amory said. “In addition, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the National Tripartite Committee have established a new structure to upgrade all workers and prepare them to meet the challenges which confront them in respect of the future of work.”
The Minister of Labour added that: “The Future of work is about people. It is about families and this transformation is about changing the attitude and the culture of people to accept the change and equip themselves to adapt to the new environment in the world of work. The future of work is about the improvement of the quality of life of our people even as they face the challenges posed by the changing socio economic and the political environment.”
Since taking office in 2015, Senior Minister Amory has led a number of reforms to promote greater efficiency, justice and harmony in labour relations. This includes establishing a National Tripartite Committee consisting of representatives from government, employers, and employees; strengthening the capacity and functionality of staff at the Department of Labour; and initiating the process to establish a Labour Code.
Honourable Amory told the delegates at the International Labour Conference that St. Kitts and Nevis recognizes the importance of ensuring that institutions of learning are geared towards lifelong learning to strengthen the ability of the workforce to adapt to new opportunities that will be created in the future.
He also congratulated the International Labour Organization (ILO) on its centenary and expressed profound gratitude for its assistance in establishing the new Labour Code for St. Kitts and Nevis.