MINISTER of Labour Joseph Hamilton, on Monday, chaired a preparatory caucus of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Labour Ministers in Geneva. The meeting, held ahead of a crucial session with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General Gilbert Houngbo, aimed to coordinate strategies for the ongoing 112th International Labour Conference (ILC).

According to the Ministry of Labour’s press release, the caucus focused on several critical issues, including Decent Work and the Care Economy, Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Biological Hazards, and the ILO’s initiatives and support for CARICOM member states. The situation in Haiti also featured prominently in the discussions.

During the caucus, the ministers noted and appreciated The Bahamas’ offer to host the next CARICOM Regional Labour Ministers Meeting. Minister Hamilton extended gratitude to the ILO’s Director General for his commitment to engaging with CARICOM Ministers at the ILC. He highlighted the region’s appreciation for the ILO’s support and advocated for exploring opportunities to involve skilled and qualified CARICOM nationals within the ILO framework.

The CARICOM Labour Ministers underscored the need for enhanced technical support from the ILO’s regional office, emphasising areas such as data collection, advancing the decent work agenda, addressing the situation in Haiti, and supporting the Global Coalition for Social Justice. They also stressed the importance of targeted initiatives to benefit the Caribbean.

The ILO’s efforts in the Caribbean were spotlighted, particularly their participation in the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Global Supply Chain Forum in May. This forum, which included UN entities, business leaders, policymakers, social partners, academia, and experts, provided a platform for sharing innovative decent work strategies aimed at enhancing industry success, resilience, and sustainability.

Guyana’s delegation to the 112th ILC, led by Minister Hamilton, includes key figures such as Adviser to the Minister of Labour Gillian Burton-Persaud, Chief Labour Officer Dhaneswar Deonarine, Ambassador Bevon McDonald, President of the Federation of Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG) Carvil Duncan, Private Sector Commission Council Member Rowena Elliot, Counsellor Kerry Karim, and First Secretary Colin Luckie.

Other participants in the Geneva meeting included prominent labour officials from across the Caribbean: Minister of Labour and the Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle and Minister of State Zane Lightbourne from The Bahamas; Barbados’ Minister of Labour Colin Jordan; Grenada’s Labour Commissioner Sparkle Grenade Courtney; Jamaica’s Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles Jnr.; Suriname’s Minister of Labour Steven Mac Andrew; and Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Labour Stephen Mc Clashie.

As the 112th ILC progresses, the coordinated efforts of CARICOM Labour Ministers underscore the region’s commitment to addressing critical labour issues and fostering collaborative strategies for the future.