Department of Labour - Grenada

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About Us

Historical Background

The establishment of the Department of Labour is rooted in the 1938 Moyne Commission Report on the social and economic conditions facing workers in the colonies at that time.

The Commission concluded that the workers of Grenada were unprotected and made the following recommendations:

  1. The enactment of legislation to protect trade unions from actions or damages resulting from strikes
  2. The enactment of legislation for peaceful picketing
  3. Compulsory registration of trade unions and audit of funds
  4. Creation of Departments of Labour
  5. Establishment of Wages Boards and Industrial Courts for the West Indies
  6. Adequate Factory inspections
  7. Legislation for the provision of workmen’s compensation.

The Commission further recommended third party interventions to include consultations, negotiations, conciliation, mediation and arbitration.

Grenada became a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1979 and has since ratified thirty-four (34) ILO Conventions. On 24th June 1999 the Labour Code collectively the Employment Act, 1999 and the Labour Relations Act, 1999 was enacted.

Legislative Mandate

The statutory responsibilities as enshrined in the Labour Code (Employment & Labour Relations Act, 1999) are as follows:

  • Promote the settlement of any differences between employers and employees in accordance with the provision of the Employment Act.
  • Advise the Minister on all labour matters and on measures to improve industrial relations generally.
  • Encourage the development of tripartism in keeping with ILO Convention 144 (Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 and provides advice to employers and trade unions on industrial relations.
  • Inspect all workplaces.
  • Establish an Employment Agency to facilitate registration of unemployed/underemployed persons.
  • Prepare Annual Report on the work of the Ministry, including the Labour Commissioner’s report on the inspection services as provided in the Employment Act no later than the month of April following the year in review.
  • Recommend to the Minister policies or the promotion of good industrial relations practices.
  • Implement the Foreign Nationals and Commonwealth Citizens Act and the issuance of work permits.

Vision

The leading Public Service organization in the delivery of labour management services.

Mission

To provide labour management services with high ethical and professional standards to all stakeholders.

Core Values

The Department of Labour embraces the following core values as its guiding principles to how we deliver services:

1

Client-focused

2

Integrity

3

Transparency

4

Fairness

5

Accountability

6

Excellence

Statutory Bodies

The Department of Labour is responsible for the administration and effective functioning of two (2) Advisory Bodies which are:

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Labour Advisory Board (LAB)

The LAB is established pursuant to Section 17 of the Employment Act, 1999.

Composition

The Labour Advisory Board (LAB) is constituted by the Minister for Labour pursuant to Section 17 of the Employment Act (1999). The current members of the Board are as follows appointed for a period of two 92) years effective September 1st, 2021

The Board is comprised of the following tripartite representatives:

  • three persons nominated by the Minister;
  • three persons nominated by the most representative organisation of employers (Grenada Employers Federation)
  • three persons nominated by the most representative organisation of workers (Grenada Trades Union Council)
  • the Labour Commissioner as one (1) of the Government representatives and the Chairperson (ex-officio)

Current Members

  • Mrs. Sparkle Grenade Courtney – Ministry of Labour (Chairperson)
  • Mr. Adrian Francis – Government Representative
  • Mr. Elliot Bishop – Government Representative
  • Mr. Andre Lewis – Grenada Trades’ Union Council Representative
  • Mr. Bert Paterson – Grenada Trades’ Union Council Representative
  • Mr. Davis Adams - Grenada Trades’ Union Council Representative
  • Mr. Lydon Lewis – Grenada Employers’ Federation Representative
  • Mr. Devon la Touche - Grenada Employers’ Federation Representative
  • Ms. Jasmine Alexander - Grenada Employers’ Federation Representative

Functions

  • The formulation and implementation of the National policies on basic conditions of employment and on health, environment and safety and welfare at work;
  • The promotion of collective bargaining;
  • Proposals for the adoption and amendment of legislation;
  • The review of the operation and enforcement of the Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act;
  • Government replies to questionnaires concerning items on the agenda of the International Labour Conference and Government comments on proposed texts to be discussed by the conference;
  • Proposals on submissions and recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);
  • Re-examination of unratified conventions;
  • Questions arising from reports made to the ILO; and proposals for the denunciation of ratified conventions.
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Wages Advisory Committee

The Wages Advisory Committee is established pursuant to Section 51 of the Employment Act, 1999.

Composition

The Committee is comprised of the following tripartite representatives:

  • three persons nominated by the Minister;
  • three persons nominated by the most representative organisation of employers (Grenada Employers Federation)
  • three persons nominated by the most representative organisation of workers (Grenada Trades Union Council)

Current Members

  • Dr. Curlan Gilchrist – Chairman
  • Mr. Justin Campbell – Member
  • Ms. Phoebe Browne – Member
  • Ms. Brenda Bain – Secretary
  • Mrs. Cisley Gabriel – Member
  • Mrs. Jenine Viechweg-Johnson – Member
  • Ms. Ann Marie Mt. Rose – Member
  • Mr. Trevor Xavier – Member
  • Mr. George Mason – Member
  • Mr. Brian Grimes – Member

About

The Minister appoints a Wages Advisory Committee in cases where there is no existing arrangement for the effective regulation of wages in a particular trade, industry or occupation, or where the Minister deems it expedient.  He shall appoint a Wages Advisory Committee to:

  • Investigate the conditions of employment in such trade, industry or occupation and to make recommendations to the minimum rates of wages which should be payable.
  • The Minimum Wages shall be reviewed by the Wages Advisory Committee at least once every three (3) years with a view to updating the minimum rate of wages.

The Wages Advisory Committee was reconstituted on 1st September 2022 for a period of three (3) years.

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