THE Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) has called for a full investigation by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, into the working conditions in all wholesale/retail operations across the country.

The union also suggested that Labour Minister Derrick Kellier formally report to the country on the findings and recommendations and ensure protection of these workers in the future.

The statement comes after recent news reports on the poor conditions under which women work in the wholesale stores in downtown Kingston. The union said that the matter has been one of its concerns for some time.

Wesley Nelson, BITU vice president, said that the survey, done by Ann-Murray Brown for her Masters thesis at UWI, revealed some of the union’s worst fears.

He said that the ministry’s decision to send out a team from its pay and conditions of employment branch was as a knee-jerk reaction to the media report, and was not the answer.

Instead, he said, a thorough investigation should be pursued, and employers found breaching the labour laws or ILO conventions covering best labour practices should have their work permits immediately withdrawn and deported. He said the Ministry should follow up these investigations by establishing a joint industrial council (JIC) to cover workers in the entire wholesale/retail trade.