Minister Speaks At Hotel Housekeepers Meeting
Minister of Economy and Labour Jason Hayward joined the Bermuda Industrial Union at the 7th Annual Global Week of Action for Hotel Housekeepers Meeting earlier today [Dec 7].
A Government spokesperson said, “Minister Hayward addressed those in attendance, recognising their dedication and commitment despite, at times, challenging working conditions. The Minister spoke about the Bermuda Government’s success in advancing workers’ statutory rights in several areas and emphasised to those in attendance that the Government will continue working with Union membership and advancing policies that protect employee rights and create safe and healthy work environments for all workers in Bermuda.
In closing, Minister Hayward said, “I wish to commend you all for your service to the people of Bermuda, the visitors to our shores and our economy. You are what some may call the backbone of our hospitality industry. I also want to thank the Bermuda Industrial Union for its commitment to ensuring its members have the right to a safe and healthy working environment.”
Minister Hayward’s full remarks follow below:
I am honored to have been offered the privilege of addressing you today, the housekeepers, room attendants, housekeeping supervisors and executive housekeepers within Bermuda’s hotels, as the Bermuda Industrial Union, in conjunction with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations, celebrates the 7th Annual Global Week of Action for Hotel Housekeepers.
Who are hotel housekeepers? You are essential workers, dedicated and committed individuals, people who take pride in their work and people who provide invaluable contributions to the hotels that employ them.
At times, however, you are also undervalued and underappreciated, your contributions go unnoticed, and you may find yourselves working in conditions that are less than ideal, health and safety wise.
Housekeepers are generally required to dust, vacuum, make beds, clean bathrooms and common areas, take out the trash, and much more. While these tasks sound like everyday activities, when housekeepers are expected to perform each of these tasks at least a dozens of times a day, under various physical and mental stressors, these ‘everyday’ activities can become a serious risk to health and safety.
One study of United States hotel workers found that housekeepers suffer from the highest rates of injury of any occupation within the hotels studied and another study of over 900 housekeepers pointed to a significant factor contributing to workers’ experience of pain: work intensity. For instance, workers who made more than 18 beds per day reported a 44% increase in lower back pain.
While the Bermuda Industrial Union has made strides in improving their members working conditions and ensuring job safety protections within the workplace, in consultation with the Bermuda Industrial Union and other sister unions, the Government of Bermuda has advanced the statutory rights of workers in a number of areas.
- Employers are required to implement a policy statement against bullying and sexual harassment within the workplace and ensure that all employees have a copy of it and that they follow the reporting and investigation of a complaint in accordance with their policy;
- Employees now have the right to receive a minimum hourly wage;
- Employees have the right to meal breaks;
- Employees have the right to receive their tips and other gratuities as well as know how tips and other gratuities are collected and redistributed within their place of employment;
- Government has also increased protections around the probation and layoff processes.
Every employee deserves to work in a workplace that is free of bullying and sexual harassment and is a safe environment which promotes mental and physical wellbeing. You play a vital role within your organizations: a clean room will entice guests to return to the same property thus creating more revenue for the hotel.
As such the Government of Bermuda will continue to advance policies that protect the rights of the employee and will continue to liaise with the Bermuda Industrial Union on ways in which we can ensure your safety and health within the workplace. The maintenance of safe and healthy workplaces is key to maintaining a safe, supportive and strong working environment and the Government of Bermuda is committed to ensuring that this will become a reality for all employees within Bermuda.
I wish to commend you all for your service to the people of Bermuda, the visitors to our shores and to our economy. You are what some may call the backbone of our hospitality industry. I also want to thank the Bermuda Industrial Union for its commitment to ensuring that its members have the right to a safe and healthy working environment.
On behalf of the Government of Bermuda, I wish you all a successful workshop.
