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LAUNCHING OF
LABOUR MARKET REFORM
COMMITTEE
BY RT. HON. P. J. PATTERSON, Q.C.,
PRIME MINISTER
AT JAMAICA HOUSE
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1995
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AS JAMAICA COMPLETES THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION TO A MARKETORIENTED
ECONOMY, THERE IS NEED TO ADDRESS THE ROLE OF LABOUR
IN A NEW EQUATION AND TO DETERMINE WHAT REFORMS ARE NECESSARY
TO FACE · THE CHALLENGES OF TODAY'S GLOBAL AND FIERCELY
COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
THFIE CHALLENGES ARE OF PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE TO A SMALL
ISLAND DEVELOPING STATE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING
CENTURIES OLD LABOUR INTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL MONOCULTURE INTO
A VIABLE, INNOVATIVE 20TH CENTURY, INDEED 21ST CENTURY,
ECONOMY.
AT ITS RETREAT LAST NOVEMBER, THE CABINET DECIDED TO APPOINT
A NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE NECESSARY STUDY AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LABOUR MARKET REFORMS IN ORDER TO FOSTER
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICIENT MARKET THAT ALLOWS FOR EQUITY
BETWEEN THE VARIOUS PARTNERS IN THE ECONOMY - GOVERNMENT,
CAPITAL, LABOUR AND THE CONSUMER.
WITHOUT SUCH REFORM, WE RECOGNISE THAT THE EFFORTS IN OTHER
AREAS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REFORM WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
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A MODERN ECONOMY WILL NEVER BE CREATED IN THE ABSENCE OF
MEANINGFUL AND SIGNIFICANT LABOUR REFORM. IF WE ARE TO MEET
THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE; IF WE ARE TO
SUCCESSFULLY FACE THE CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
AT HOME AND ABROAD, WE ARE OBLIGED AS A QUESTION OF EXTREME
URGENCY TO REVISIT OUR LABOUR LAWS, OUR INDUSTRIAL
INSTITUTIONS AND TO DEFINE A NEW SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THOSE ENGAGED IN THE ACTUAL PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND
SERVICES AND THEIR CLIENTS AND CONSUMERS.
IN AN AGE OF RAPIDLY CHANGING TECHNOLOGY, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE
PRESENT, BUT WE MUST ALSO LOOK WELL BEYOND IT TO THE MEDIUM
AND LONG TERM JOBS AND SKILLS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED. WE HAVE
TO IMPROVE, UPGRADE AND EXTEND OUR EDUCATION AND TRAIN TO
SATISFY OUR REQUIREMENTS, WHETHER IN MANUFACTURING,
AGRICULTURE, TOURISM, MINING, INFORMATION PROCESSING,
ENTERTAINMENT OR THE GAMUT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
WE HAVE TO EXAMINE OUR MODES OF PRODUCTION AND FIND NEW WAYS
TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE OUR LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY. THIS
WILL NECESSARILY INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF APPROPRIATE
TECHNOLOGY AND RELEVANT RESEARCH.
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THE REMOVAL OF WAGE GUIDELINES MAKES IT THE MORE NECESSARY TO
DEVELOP A NATIONAL POLICY ON WAGES AND INCOME. THIS CANNOT
BE DIVORCED FROM CONSIDERATIONS OF INVESTMENT, PROFITS,
DIVIDENDS AND INFLATION.
INDUSTRIAL NEGOTIATION IS NOT A GAME OF HIDE-AND-SEEK. IT
MUST BE CONDUCTED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE TO
PERMIT TIMELY DISLCOSURE OF INFORMATION THAT IS ADEQUATE AND
RELIABLE. THE AIM IS TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND EQUITY IN THE
MARKET.
WE WILL EXPECT LAWS, REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES RELATING TO
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT THE WORKPLACE TO BE REVIEWED. THE
AGENCIES WHICH HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE ENFORCEMENT
WILL NEED THE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES.
GOVERNMENT VIEWS THE EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP PROGRAMME (ESOP)
AS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF LABOUR MARKET REFORM. THE
LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PASSED, BUT TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL,
THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW CULTURE, AN INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN TO
EDUCATE WORKER AND EMPLOYEE ALIKE ABOUT THE PROFOUND BENEFITS
THAT THIS LEGISLATION OFFERS.
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BUT THE COMMITTEE 1 S CONSIDERATION OF HOW TO SECURE INCREASED
PARTICIPATION BY WORKERS IN THE ECONOMY WILL NOT BE CONFINED
TO THE ESOP MODEL. IT IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER OTHER INCOME
OR PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMMES THAT DO NOT DEPEND ON CONTINUOUS
SPONSORSHIP WHETHER BY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BROADENING THE ECONOMIC BASE AND PROVIDING A LEVEL
PLAYINGFIELD ARE ESSENTIAL PILLARS IN OUR ECONOMIC STRATEGY.
TO ACHIEVE IT, REQUIRES INNOVATIVE THINKING.
TODAY, I FORMALLY CHARGE THE COMMITTEE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THIS IMPORTANT NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT.
REFERENCE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE PUBLIC .
THE TERMS OF
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