Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — Workplace safety and health/retirement benefits will come under greater scrutiny by officials from the Department of Labour as they seek to protect workers in St. Kitts and Nevis.
During a sitting of the Federal Parliament on Tuesday (June 30) Senior Minister and Minister of Labour Honourable Vance Amory informed that inspections within workplaces in particular construction sites, will be increased to ensure the laws concerning Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) are being observed. Construction sites were singled out as statistics indicate that most workplace accidents occur there.
Greater collaboration between the Department of Labour and Social Security Board has also being mandated to ensure that contributions are paid by the employer for the benefit of the employee in cases of sickness, job loss, retirement or death.
The increased action comes amid concerns about the inconsistency of some businesses in meeting legal obligations.
“… The laws of the country must be obeyed regardless of the investment [or] the investor and we shall ensure that we do the inspection, do the site visits so that we get the matter under control …,” Senior Minister Amory stressed.