Opposition Senator Ryan Walters has called on Government to move beyond statistics and platforms if it is truly serious about building a fair and stable labour market.
His comments came in response to the launch of the new Barbados Job Registry, which officials have promoted as a tool to improve visibility in the labour market.
While acknowledging the registry as a step forward, Walters argued that the initiative does not address the core problem facing Barbadian workers.
“The Government has been quick to point to a low unemployment rate as a marker of success. But employment statistics do not tell the full story. What our people, especially our young people need is not simply a job, but a fair and secure job. Without fairness, the promise of low unemployment rings hollow,” he said.
The Opposition senator cited longstanding concerns about workers being hired on short-term contracts across the public sector. He recalled the treatment of ash workers, who struggled to secure a social security safety net while employed by the state, and pointed to reports of environment ministry staff working for years without job security.
“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is no stranger to this practice where 12-month contracts are the order of the day. The Government has also sought to convert permanent positions into contract posts in various ministries across the civil service,” he said.
Workers exposed
Walters stressed that such practices left workers exposed to uncertainty and at the mercy of political intervention for contract renewals.
“This is not fair and goes against labour practice that promote decency and fairness in the workplace,” he said.
The senator added that the private sector appeared to be following the state’s lead, with too many young Barbadians being offered short-term contracts that are repeatedly broken and renewed to deny them benefits.
“These employers appear to be following the Government’s lead by eluding critical employee obligations by engaging in this practice,” Walters said.
He warned that the consequences of such arrangements were not just administrative, but deeply personal.
“This harmful practice denies our workers security of tenure, exclude them from full access to social security benefits, and make it impossible to plan. How can a young person hope to rent a home, own a vehicle, qualify for a mortgage, or even get a small loan for a household appliance, when their contract ends in a matter of months?”
Framing the issue as a matter of dignity and stability, he said: “This is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet, this is about quality work, dignity, stability, and the ability of ordinary Barbadians to build a life. Job security is not a luxury; it is the foundation upon which families, communities, and the wider economy are built.”
Walters insisted that the Democratic Labour Party would not sit quietly while the rights of workers were undermined. He outlined the party’s commitments should it form the next Government, pledging to clamp down on the abuse of short-term contracts, ensure that social security and benefits follow the worker, and champion permanent, decent jobs across both public and private sectors.
He also vowed to expand programmes that deliver long-term employment, housing, and financial access for young people.
“The DLP stands firmly on the side of the people. We will fight for fairness. We will restore dignity. We will deliver a Barbados where opportunity is matched by security,” the Opposition Senator said. ( CLM)
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