14-15 February 2019

The Future of Work We Want: Workers' Perspectives from the Caribbean

The conference will bring together together representatives from trade unions, governments, academia as well as employers to discuss the developments that are driving the world of work in the future.

Context

Based on the slogan “The future of work we want”, the subregional conference in the Caribbean aims to reflect on the current developments in the world of work and how the countries can develop appropriate strategies to face the expected changes in future work. The role of unions in achieving this will be the focus of this conference.

The goal is to contribute to the Future of Work Centenary Initiative from a trade union perspective based on the unique issues faced by the member countries of the sub-region and discussing possible policy responses, both of governments and social partners, as a means to promoting social justice and protecting the rights of working men and women.

Programme

14 February 2019

09:00-10:00 Video of the inauguration

Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General ILO (Video)
Remarks by Ms Maria Helena Andre, Director, ILO ACTRAV, Geneva
Opening remarks by Senator the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste Primus, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Trinidad and Tobago
Remarks by Mr.Michael Annisette, General Secreatry, National Trade Union Centre, Trinidad and Tobago
Welcome remarks by Mr Hassan Ndahi, Senior Specialist, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean

10:30-12:00 Video of Special Dialogue 1: The ILO Future of Work initiative: the year ahead

Facilitator: Ms Maria Helena Andre, Director, ILO ACTRAV Geneva

Video highlights of the members of the Global Commission on the Future of Work
Presentation of the report: Mr Michael Watt, Specialist, ILO ACTRAV Geneva

Panellists:

Mrs Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, President, Caribbean Congress of Labour
Mr Wayne Chen, President, Caribbean Employers’ Confederation
Ms. Natalie Willis, Permanent Secretary, Ministery of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Trinidad and Tobago

13:30-15:00 Video of Dialogue 1: Economic, social and sustainable development in a globalized world

Facilitator: Mr Hassan Ndahi, Senior Specialist, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean

Panellists:

Dr. Dillon Alleyne, Deputy Director, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Subregional headquarters for the Caribbean
Ms. Rosamae Whittier, Free Movement and Labour Officer, CARICOM Single Market and Economy Unit, CARICOM Secretariat
Dr. Andre Henry, Director, Cipriani College of Labour

Comments from the participants:

Mr. Kertist Augustus, Waterfront & Allied Workers Union, Dominica
Mr. Richard Chase, Grenada Technical and Allied Workers' Union
Mr. Carvil Duncan, National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees
Ms. Marie Louise Glasgow, National Labour Congress, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Mr. Hubert M. Dirksz, Aruba Workers' Federation (FTA)

15:30-17:00 Video of Dialogue 2: Role of Work in Society

Facilitator: Ms Anna Biondi, Deputy Director, ILO ACTRAV Geneva

Panellists:

• Ms. Sandra Massiah, Sub-regional Secretary for the Caribbean, Public Services International
• Dr. Michael Witter, Economist, Jamaica

Comments from the participants:

Mr. Riegnald Arrindell, Windward Islands Civil Servants/ Private Sector Union
Mrs. Nyota Mulcare, Montserrat Civil Service Association
Ms. Susan Hodge, Anguilla Civil Service Association
Mr. Armand Zunder, Raad Van Vakcentrales in Suriname (RAVAKSUR)
Mr Beniah Poleon, National Workers' Union, St. Lucia

15 February 2019

09:00-10:00 Video of Special Dialogue 2: The ILO and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda

Facilitator: Ms Maria Helena Andre, Director, ILO ACTRAV Geneva

Video Statement of Ms Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Panellists:

Mrs Sharifa Ali-Abdullah, Assistant Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten
Ms Sharon Young, CEO, Ministry of Labour and Local Government, Belize
Ms Toni Moore, Deputy President, Trade Union Confederation of the Americas
Mrs. Joanne Deoraj, Permanent Secretary, The Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago

10:30-12:00 Video of Dialogue 3: Challenges of effective governance in an increasingly globalized world: The role of the State

Facilitator: Mr Rainer Pritzer, Senior Specialist, Social Dialogue and Labour Administration, ILO

Panellists:

Sir Roy Trotman, Workers’ Vice-Chairperson of the ILO Governing Body (2002-2011)
Mr Keston Nancoo, Chairman, The Employers' Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECATT)
Mr Victor Felix, Chief Labour Officer

Comments from participants:

Mr. Marvin Mora, National Trade Union Congress of Belize
Ms Coretta McDonald, Guyana Trades Union Congress
Ms. Winnifred Meeks, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions
Mr. Joseph Remy, Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs, Trinidad and Tobago
Mr. Jason Hayward, Bermuda Trades Union Congress

13:00-14:30 Video of Dialogue 4: Challenges of effective governance in an increasingly globalized world: The role of Trade Unions

Facilitator: Ms Hilda Sanchez, ILO ACTRAV, Geneva

Panellists:

Ms Amanda Claribel Villatoro, Trade Union Policy and Education, Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA)
Mr Vern Gill, President, St. Lucia Employers’ Federation
Ms. Deborah Thomas-Felix, President, Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago
Mr Antonio Rodriguez Fritz, Regional Secretary, International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Americas