The Labour Department exists to assist employees and employers alike, Labour Commissioner Janice Rymer said Thursday afternoon during a ceremony to “re-launch” the Employment Services Unit’s orientation for employees applying for new work permits.
“We are here for you,” she said to approximately 20 applicants, along with Labour Department staff and others gathered in the agency’s training room for the ceremony.
The orientation sessions are nothing new, according to Ms. Rymer.
“In fact, our counterpart officers in Virgin Gorda have been doing these sessions for some time,” she said.
She did not say when or why the department previously stopped holding the sessions.
Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering, the minister of natural resources and labour, had been slated to speak at the re-launch, but he was unable to attend, Ms. Rymer said.
Instead, Permanent Secretary Ronald Smith Berkeley spoke on behalf of the Natural Resources and Labour Ministry, advising work permit applicants to join friendly societies, sporting groups, or other social activities to help them integrate into the community.
Members of the press were not allowed to stay for the orientation itself, but the agenda included talks from Ms. Rymer and acting Dispute Officer Devern Davis about labour inspections, occupational safety and health, retrenchment, disputes, and termination of employment.
See the Nov. 26, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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