This according to Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Peet, who said Monday that the Government has joined forces with public sector entities to host the Productivity Management Seminar, which will give birth to the formation of The Bahamas Productivity Council, similar to that which exists in Barbados.
The Productivity Management Workshop will be held November 25-27 at Workers House, and will expose employers, managers and workers in the public and private sectors to the latest techniques for measuring productivity and for establishing linkages between productivity and pay increases during the collective bargaining process.
The facilitator for the workshop is the Executive Director of the Barbados Productivity Council, Mr. John Pilgrim.
"The number of trade disputes and complaints reported to my Ministry over the issue of fair and equitable pay for work performed, tells me that in many instances we are not getting it right, and employers, both public and private as well as trade unions, are searching for answers as to how we as a country can develop a system across the board that can measure productivity in this country. A system that is fair and equitable to all and sundry," Minister Peet said.
"I believe that this workshop and others like it will go a long way towards preparing Bahamians for the effects of the FTAA and Globalisation, and we are as a country cannot afford ourselves to lag behind when it comes to those positive programmes that will serve to enhance industrial relations in the country," he said.
The seminar is arranged in three different categories, as follows: the first day will be devoted to the public sector; the second day is set aside for employers; and the third day is devoted to workers and worker organisations.
Bahamas Employers Confederation representative Brian Nutt said his association recognises the importance of productivity and realises that the formation of a National Productivity Council is in the country's best interest.
"Productivity goes hand-in-hand in creating competitiveness. We are looking at being competitive in light of globalisation and the FTAA. In order for increases in productivity to actually work and be of benefit it has to be a win-win situation," he explained.
In other words, Mr. Nutt said, the companies that are involved in productivity increases will expect their bottom line to be increased thereby, employees who are partners in creating that productivity gain would expect to increase their wages in take home pay. But, he said, just as important, is that the consumer needs to be given products at lower prices.
"If we don't have lower prices to consumers then productivity is not making us more competitive, and that is one of the major goals in us trying to look at our improvements in productivity," he said.
"We believe very strongly this is one of the ways we can better prepare for globalisation, WTO and the FTAA," said National Congress of Trade Union representative, Frank Carter.
"The workers of The Bahamas must be more aware and better prepared to be competitive. They need to know their shortcomings and their strong points. Work to make their strong points even stronger and correct their weaknesses."
Mr. Carter highlighted the fact that in recent years the public sector has come under criticism for low productivity. He said employers and members of the public alike are being critical of trade unions and workers in the public sector. "We do hope that with awareness comes the need for knowledge and education on these and other matters related."
In 1996, by Statute, Barbados established a Tripartite Council with the vision and goal to raise productivity in Barbados to make that country much more competitive in the international arena.
Mr. Pilgrim is known for conducting seminars for the Airport Airline and Allied Workers Union and the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union.
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
