| KINGSTON, July 3 (JIS): |
|
Labour and Social Security Minister, Horace Dalley
has said that there are no plans to introduce a “Flexible Work
Arrangement” Law. “Instead, a number of existing pieces of legislation would be amended to accommodate contractual agreements between employees and employers with respect to flexible work arrangements at the enterprise level,” the Minister said. Those to be amended include: the Shops and Offices Act; the Women (Employment) Act; the Holiday with Pay Act; the National Minimum Wage Order; the Maternity Leave Act; and the Employment (Termination and Redundancy Payments) Act. Minister Dalley, who was making his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate in the House on June 30, told his colleagues that the Government was moving to “provide the legislative, administrative and arbitrative framework within which the various options for flexible work can be securely pursued by employees and employers to their mutual advantage”. The Minister pointed out that flexible working arrangements represented for employers, an opportunity to increase productivity and cost effectiveness within their enterprises, which would be further enabled by having a flexible skilled workforce. For
employees, he said flexible working arrangements would allow for
more control and influence over working time; enhance their ability
to balance work, worship and family life; and provide opportunities
to pursue further training and education. |
