RUDDY SPENCER, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party spokesman on labour, says that the party is concerned about the preparation of the labour sector to meet the demands of increased competition under the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) next year.

The JLP, he said, wanted an update from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on the progress of efforts to deal with crucial labour problems which need to be addressed prior to Jamaica’s entrance into the CSME next January.

In a letter to the minister, Horace Dalley, Spencer said he was particularly worried that almost one year after a number of recommendations were made to the ministry by the Labour Advisory Committee( LAC), there was no indication from the ministry that any attempt was being made to see that they are addressed or implemented.

He listed among the recommendations:

. raising the strategic profile of the ministry within government’s overall socio-economic planning;

. ensuring that the tripartite mechanism is institutionalised and underpinned by legislation;

. ensuring that the LAC is strengthened by the inclusion of other critical stakeholders like the Planning

Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the Heart Trust/NTA and the Ministry of Health;

. create a mechanism for inter-ministerial linkages;

. include broader growth and labour market development issues in the transition of the core business of the ministry;

. ensure greater involvement of the ministry in dialogue on economic development; and

. shift the focus of the ministry’s functions from industrial relations to employee relations.

“As you had stated in your sectoral presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 your ministry has the responsibility to lead the process of labour market reform and preparing the labour force to become world class producers,” Spencer said in his letter. “I am very concerned that the country has not heard anything about the issues coming out of the tripartite deliberations.”

Spencer said that as the Opposition’s spokesman on labour and as the president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), “I am seeking an update on the efforts of your ministry to address these issues and a timetable within which you hope to achieve these targets”.