Barbados must embrace policy coherence, support for enterprise and stronger data-driven planning to build the resilience needed for a sustainable future.
That’s according to Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, who was addressing stakeholders recently, at the official launch of its 2025 to 2030 Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Jordan said while the small size of the country often presented challenges, including climate vulnerability, imported inflation and supply chain fragility, it also provided unique opportunities for cohesive policy-making and meaningful social dialogue.
“This is not just about employment, it’s about building the systems and structures that will allow Barbados to survive and thrive amid the vagaries of the international economic and geopolitical system, climate shocks and technological disruption,” Jordan said.
The minister said the new programme, developed in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), represented a critical pillar in national development. He said it was built around integrated policies that target transition, employment promotion, sustainable enterprises and stronger labour market institutions.
Jordan said Barbados could not afford to see productivity and protection as separate goals.
“We celebrate today a recognition that production and protection must go together. If we are to achieve sustainable development, we must ensure that every component of our socio-economic system is strong.”
The DWCP, developed over several months of consultation with trade unions, employer organisations, and Government representatives, outlines four main priorities: integrated policy-making for decent work, stronger support for employment and enterprise sustainability, effective labour administration and robust social dialogue.
Jordan noted that the DWCP was not the Government’s programme alone.
“The Ministry of Labour will not be accepting sole responsibility for the execution. We expect that if Government starts to lag, the Social Partners would come to us directly and give us that nudge. We will respond.”
With multilateral institutions such as the ILO facing funding constraints due to geopolitical shifts, Jordan said Barbados was lobbying at the international level to safeguard resources allocated to the Caribbean.
“Our voice is bigger than our geographical size. We must continue to ensure that small states like ours are not forgotten,” he said.
Jordan urged all stakeholders to remain engaged over the next five years, reminding them that the programme was not a trophy for display but a tool for transformation.
“The journey continues. Realising the benefits of this Decent Work Country Programme is a shared responsibility. We all have a part to play in building the kind of Barbados we want to see by 2030.”
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