KINGSTON, Jamaica— People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding is demanding that the Government take immediate action to address employment issues in the tourism industry, which have led to a series of strikes over the past weeks.

The latest of these protest actions took place on Monday when the staff at Excellence Oyster Bay in Trelawny walked off the job as they demanded that their employers provide increased wages, including overtime pay; additional staff buses and more uniforms. This followed similar action from workers at Iberostar in Rose Hall, St James; Royalton Negril and Secrets and Breathless resorts in Freeport, Montego Bay.

“The ongoing unrest in our tourism sector is a direct result of poor governance. For too long, the Minister of Tourism has neglected the critical needs of the local industry. The high cost of living, inadequate transportation and poor road conditions have placed tremendous pressure on hotel operators and workers, bringing the situation to a boiling point,” Golding stated.

He called for the Government to establish a joint council as a mechanism for constructive dialogue to protect the rights of tourism workers and uphold the Decent Work Agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“This is not just about fairness for our workers; it is essential for the long-term sustainability and growth of Jamaica’s tourism industry, a critical part of the Jamaican economy. Tourism workers are major contributors to the strength of Brand Jamaica, and their concerns must be taken seriously. We must provide an ecosystem where both workers and hotel operators thrive,” Golding said.

The Opposition leader went on to accuse Prime Minister Andrew Holness of politically manipulating the situation, noting that Holness has blamed the PNP for the current unrest in the sector.

“It is disrespectful to the serious concerns of tourism workers to suggest that they are being politically manipulated when they take action to have their grievances addressed. Instead of the prime minister seeking to ‘pass the buck’ by blaming the People’s National Party for current unrest in the sector, he should take responsibility for failing to address these issues in the sector over the past nine years.”

“The PNP will continue to advocate for the protection of workers’ rights and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure a sustainable and harmonious tourism sector. We recognise the importance of creating a balance that ensures hotel operators can run their businesses effectively, maintain visitor satisfaction, and operate sustainably,” Golding said.

He added that this is a pivotal moment, requiring the Government to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further damage to ‘Destination Jamaica’.

“I call for a comprehensive analysis of the industry as a matter of urgency, and a cohesive response from the Ministries of Labour, Tourism, and Transport to address the challenges facing the sector,” Golding said, while urging the Government to listen to the voices of the workers.