RobertsTHE NATIONAL Workers' Union (NWU), which is allied to the governing People's National Party, has criticised the Jamaica Labour Party's election manifesto for what it says is a failure to deal with workers' issues.
But Audley Shaw, the JLP's spokesman on Finance, has dismissed the union's statement, arguing that the entire focus of the JLP's plans is the creation of an environment in which workers can take advantage of opportunities in the new global economic environment.
The NWU said that the manifesto had failed to "show plans to strengthen and develop industrial relations and secure trade union representation."
Danny Roberts, vice-president of the NWU, blasted the JLP, stating that at a time when there was a need to build sound industrial relations practices and protect the rights of workers, the JLP had failed to lay out a plan to deal with the situation.
"No reference has been made to the need to strengthen regional integration and the impact that this will have on the social, economic and political developments in Jamaica," Mr. Roberts said.
He said it would be difficult for any worker to give serious consideration to the JLP against the background of its failure to deal with "the role of workers in the shaping of the society.
But, speaking to The Gleaner yesterday, Mr. Shaw argued that the JLP's concern for the Jamaican worker was reflected in its ambitious multi-billion education plan which, he said, was the basis for creating an educated workforce.
"The first right of a worker is the right to decent employment," Mr. Shaw said, knocking the Government for the massive job losses that he says have taken place under its administration.
He said that other rights of the Jamaican worker were already enshrined and protected in various pieces of legislation.
