Labour ministry calls meeting with BITU and Bahia Principe management over redundancy exercise

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is to meet with representatives of the Bahia Principe resorts and the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) on Monday following concerns about a planned redundancy exercise by the hotel operator.

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts recently announced that its Grand Jamaica property will remain closed until December 1, 2026, and that it would embark on a redundancy exercise at that property as well as at its sister property, Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, as a result of setbacks from Hurricane Melissa.

However, the BITU called for the ministry's intervention saying it strongly rejected the move toward mass redundancy and pressed the company to explore all available options to avoid job loss, consistent with the labour relations code.

The labour ministry, in a media release, acknowledged the concerns raised by the BITU and that it has formally received a written report from the BITU outlining the matter and requesting intervention.

"In keeping with its mandate to promote and safeguard harmonious labour and industrial relations across Jamaica, the Ministry has written to the hotel’s management, inviting them and their representatives to a conciliatory meeting on Monday, 24 November 2025, to discuss the union’s concerns and the way forward, in accordance with established industrial relations best practices," the ministry said.

The ministry said it remains committed to facilitating constructive engagement between the parties while exploring available options to mitigate any adverse employment impact.

It also gave its commitment to ensure that the rights and welfare of affected workers are upheld.

"The Ministry will continue to monitor developments closely and advise that no definitive conclusions should be drawn until discussions have been completed. A further update will be provided as appropriate," it said.

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