Labour Day Message From Minister Hayward
[Written by Minister of Economy and Labour Jason Hayward]
Good morning Brothers and Sisters and Happy Labour Day!
Today, we celebrate the workers of our island, whose dedication, sacrifice and commitment have helped to build Bermuda and continue to strengthen our economy, our communities and our future.
Reflecting on this year’s Labour Day theme, Labour Unites the Culture, Diversity and Resilience of Our People, it is imperative that we have a strong labour movement, that is strong labour unions and a strong labour party.
The work ahead is too important for division and too great for any one person or any one organization. We must have collective resolve within our labour movement. Our progress has never been the work of one person, one union or one generation.
The labour movement is where our different experiences, backgrounds, skills and perspectives come together. Bermuda’s labour movement is a reflection of this diversity and resilience and it is through that collective strength that many of the labour rights and protections we recognise today were won. These rights were built by workers who organised, advocated and, at times, made significant personal sacrifices to improve working conditions and secure greater protections for those who would come after them.
I want to recognise the important role that trade unions have played in advancing workers’ rights in Bermuda. Collective bargaining provides workers with a collective voice. It provides employers and workers with a structured process through which they can negotiate wages, working conditions and other matters affecting the workplace. When approached constructively, collective bargaining can strengthen relationships between employers and workers, address concerns before they escalate and contribute to fair and productive workplaces where every worker is treated with respect and dignity. That is why this Government is actively promoting collective bargaining. We recognize and understand the value of collective bargaining as a means of progressing those rights.
As we look to the future, we acknowledge that our culture is a strength, our diversity is a strength, our resilience is a strength, and collective action is a strength. The world of work will continue to change. Technology will transform workplaces. New forms of employment will emerge. Our workforce will continue to become more diverse and the labour movements must be prepared to respond.
The Ministry is ensuring that Bermuda keeps pace with the changing world of work and over the past year, we have made significant progress in strengthening workers’ rights and modernising our labour framework:
- We strengthened parental leave protections, extending these protections to adoptive parents and legal guardians while recognising the changing realities of families and the workplace;
- We are strengthening the enforcement of employment rights by enhancing the mechanisms for giving effect to decisions of the Employment and Labour Relations Tribunal; and
- We continued to strengthen Bermuda’s minimum wage framework, ensuring that wage protections remain responsive to the realities facing workers and our economy.
The Ministry is undertaking important gap analysis work against relevant ILO Conventions, examining our legislative and policy framework, identifying areas where further alignment may be required and considering how those gaps can be addressed.
But advancing workers’ rights requires more than legislation. It requires us to continually examine whether our laws and practices remain fit for purpose and whether they reflect the principles and standards expected in the modern world of work.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Labour Advisory Council for their assistance with this important work. Your contribution demonstrates the value of bringing Government, unions and employers together to examine our labour framework and determine how we can continue to promote workers’ rights.
I also want to thank you, the workers who show up every day, work long hours, perform difficult and at times unseen jobs, contribute to our economy and keep Bermuda moving.
For the generations of workers who organised, advocated and sacrificed so that those who followed could enjoy greater rights and protections, their resilience became our foundation. Their diversity became part of our strength and their collective action became part of Bermuda’s labour legacy.
Let us honour that legacy by continuing to work together, because Labour Unites Us.
Labour unites our different cultures and experiences, it brings together our diversity and it strengthens our resilience.
May we continue to build a Bermuda where every worker is valued, every voice can be heard and the dignity of work is respected.
Happy Labour Day, Bermuda!
