Employers advised to pay workers properly
Industrial relations consultant, Stafford Joseph, has joined with General-Secretary of the Antigua Workers Union (AWU), Senator David Massiah, in encouraging employers of security personnel to stop disobeying the law and pay the workers for overtime work.
In a statement issued to the media, Senator Massiah indicated that employees in the security sector are challenged with discrimination and other adverse working conditions. He explained that most security employees are deliberately scheduled and forced to work beyond the eight-hour day without overtime pay, a condition the union eliminated over 65 years ago.
“We empathise with the employees made victims by these unscrupulous employers and urge them to demand their rights,” Massiah said.
He has advised these employers that the union will be taking steps against them to recover the monies which they did not pay the employees for the overtime worked.
Meanwhile, speaking to the AntiguaSun, Joseph said some security officers work a 12-hour shift or even more and are paid basic pay for those hours, when the regular working day consists of eight hours.
“To have someone working 12 hours and paying them for four extra hours at basic pay is illegal; this should be time-and-a-half overtime pay.
While some of the workers might agree to this depending on their situation, it is wrong.”
Joseph said that in some instances, some workers would have already completed their shift and are being required to work an additional eight hours in place of someone else and are still been paid basic pay.
“This is gross disrespect to workers and exploitation of workers. Notwithstanding the fact that most of them are Caricom nationals who need the extra funds to take care of themselves, it is wrong and totally immoral.”
Joseph went on to indicate that workers’ rights must be protected and actions should be taken by the Labour Department. (Antigua Sun)