Senator wants end to ‘exploitative’ short term contracts

Daraine Luton, Senior Gleaner Writer

Government Senator Lambert Brown is urging fellow legislators to close the loop holes in various laws which allow employers to ‘exploit’ workers by way of issuing them short term contracts.

Brown, in debating a motion he moved on the Employment Termination and Redundancy Act, said the proliferation of short-term contracts is taking the country back to the days of slavery.

According to the Senator, security guards and workers in the hotel sector are at the mercy of employers as they work for years, and for long hours and are only considered contractors.

He has called for the Government to move urgently to review the definition of a worker and take the necessary steps to urgently standardise labour-related legislation:

Meanwhile, Government Senator Angela Brown Burke has suggested that the procurement rule be amended to make it a requirement that industrial relations practices be considered in the award of Government contracts.

According to Brown Burke, successive governments have abetted companies and individuals in the practice of worker abuse.

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