British Virgin Islands - Island Sun Newspaper

March 1 2002

MINISTER CONTINUES TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR THE DRAFT BVI LABOUR CODE

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, the Hon. Julian Fraser, continues his efforts to drum-up support for the draft Labour Code Bill 2001, according to a GIS release.

On Monday evening, 18th February, he met local businesspersons at the Prospect Reef Hotel conference room. Minister Fraser told them it was important for Belongers and non-Belongers to rally behind the Bill.
In his presentation, the Labour Minister also outlined areas of most concern to him, where the draft Bill is concerned - the provision for term limits and the tribunal.

Section 29 of the draft Labour Code Bill 2001 provides for the Minister to appoint an Arbitration Tribunal to settle disputes and complaints he receives. At the moment, Mr. Fraser said, the process of dealing with disputes is time consuming and puts too much pressure on the Minister.
“The Minister would be better served if he is excused from the burdens of dealing with the many complaints and let them be handled by a tribunal”, the Labour Minister said. Under the existing arrangement, he stressed, many of the disputes remain unsettled and amounts to a big sacrifice in time and effort by the Minister.

Where term limits are concerned Minister Fraser said the proposed measure of a five-year limit on work permits is needed to cope with the situation where persons on work permits end up residing. He gave statistics over the last five years that show a large percentage of persons deciding to stay in the BVI, after receiving work permits.

“Over the last five years we had a total of 802 work permits issued. Of those 802 work permits issued, 334 people decided to stay on in the territory, which is 43 percent”, he disclosed.

According to Minister Fraser, members of the local business community must understand where government is heading with the draft Labour Code Bill 2001, and he said it’s imperative for them to speak with one voice in support. He is also calling for full opposition support when the Bill is read again in the Legislative Council.

It is not yet known when the draft Labour Code Bill 2001 will be read a second and third time in the Legislative Council, but it has already received a first reading.

Minister Fraser said he does not want to be a lone campaigner in pushing for the new Labour Code to become law, but he wants it to pass with unanimous support from legislators and the BVI population in general.
The Minister believes that the Bill empowers BVIslanders, and the majority of persons at the meeting voiced support for most parts of the Bill.