Ministry of Labour (Barbados)
| Ministry of Labour | |
| Ministry overview | |
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| Annual budget | $80.5 million BBD (2016-2017) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Ministry executive |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website |
labour |
The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, commonly referred to as the Ministry of Labour, is a government ministry responsible for policy formulation, industrial relations, the regulation and delivery of vocational and technical training, the National Insurance Scheme and the other overall administration and coordination of all operations falling under the Minister of Labour’s portfolio.
The current Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, as of April 15, 2017 is Mrs. Yolande Howard.
Senator Dr. the Honourable Esther R Byer was appointed Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development on February 28, 2013.
Organization and Management
The Permanent Secretary
Mrs. Yolande Howard currently serves the people of Barbados as Permanent Secretary after being appointed on April 15, 2017. Mrs. Howard previously acted in the position from August 2016 and as Deputy Permanent Secretary for several years before.
A Permanent Secretary is essentially the Chief Executive Officer of a ministry, reporting to the Cabinet of Barbados. The Permanent Secretary or P.S is the most senior civil servant in government and is not politically appointed. He or she is responsible for managing the ministry tasked with implementing the Cabinet's policies as it relates to what falls under the Minister's portfolio. In the case of Barbados, the P.S as well as other civil servants are appointed through a government agency known as Personnel Administration Division. Thus, Permanent Secretaries cannot be hired or terminated by their Ministers or the Prime Minister of Barbados. The Permanent Secretary is the accounting officer of the Ministry.
Assisting the Permanent Secretary is a Deputy Permanent Secretary and Secretary.
Planning and Administration
General Management
The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development is managed by a Permanent Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary and other senior staff that ensure the formulation and implementation of policies under the Minister's portfolio. The Ministry is the main facilitator of relations between the Government of Barbados and international organizations such as the International Labour Organization. The ministry is also responsible for facilitating relationship with workers unions in Barbados and working with foreign governments to aid in the a
Manpower, Research and Statistical Unit
The Manpower Research and Statistical Unit is the intelligence gathering and research unit of the Ministry of Labour . The Unit is responsible for ensuring labour market information is provided to the people of Barbados in a timely manner. This Unit is managed by a Chief Research Officer. This Unit relays information to the public through the Barbados Labour Market Information System. This system has many functions, one of which is outreach in the form of lectures and presentations.
Labour Department
The Labour Department is responsible for the technical areas of the Ministry of Labour. The Department is run by a Chief Labour Officer who is responsible for ensuring the mandate of the Department is carried out. The Department's functions are carried out by three sub-divisions. These sub-divisions are Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety and Health and the National Employment Bureau.
On May 24, 2017, it was announced by Permanent Secretary Yolande Howard that the National Employment Bureau would be re-branding and the first step of this would be to re-name the Bureau the Barbados Employment and Career Counselling Service (BECCS) department. This re-branding of the Bureau is expected to increase effectiveness and efficiency. “All in all the restructuring and institutional strengthening of the National Employment Bureau will ensure that the new public employment service, BECCS, is better able to fulfill its mandate”, said the Permanent Secretary.
The Technical Vocational Education and Training Council
The Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council is the national training agency responsible for improving the competitive position of Barbados through workforce development in vocational and technical education and training. The Council is tasked with establishing standards and qualifications for technical and vocational education and training. The Council also advises the Minister on policies related to the Council.
"Technical and vocational education and training is the principle engine of workforce development. It can be used as an arm of economic policy to support business competitiveness and growth and also can be used as an instrument of public policy to address equity concerns about disadvantages in the labour market." is how the Ministry refers to the Council and its work.
The Barbados Vocational Training Board is an institution that provides various programmes and training opportunities to aid in the mission of TVET.
Budget
The figures below are reflective of the 2016 - 2017 Budget Estimates.
| Division | Funding (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Direction and Policy Formulation | $4.2 |
| Operation of the National Insurance Scheme and Social Security | $48.8 |
| HIV and Aids Prevention and Control Project | $0.3 |
| Employment and Labour Relations | $5.2 |
| Occupational Training | $16.9 |
| Human Resource Development Strategy | $5 |
| Total | $80.5 |