HANOVER, Jamaica – Hundreds of hotel workers at Royalton Negril are currently staging a protest action at the staff entrance to the hotel in Hanover.

The protest, which started early Monday morning, saw placard-bearing workers and at least one hotel guest peacefully lining an off-road from the main road that leads to the property and others – Grand Lido Negril, Point Village Resort and Hedonism II Negril.

The workers are protesting what they describe as poor treatment, inadequate pay, being overworked, among other things.

One worker, Amal James, said some hoteliers are operating as they please and as such, there is dire need for the hospitality industry to be unionised to “voice the concern and get things done.”

James is also calling for the intervention of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

“I am asking you, please, sir, please to come and address what is going on in the hospitality industry. We need better representation for the staff in the hotel industry. Too much ill-treatment. Please, two days off. [We] need to come in, a system [of] two days off, and eight-hour work shifts. Too much-overworked staff in the hotel industry. Please. If we do overtime, no pay, they just treat us as they feel like,” argued James.

The workers were reportedly addressed by the hotel’s resident manager. However, the workers remained dissatisfied and continued their actions.

The 573-room property which was open to the public in 2017, currently has more than 1,000 employees.

Anthony Lewis