Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Sam Condor has denounced as “callous, unprofessional and disrespectful” the termination of 131 call centre employees by Clear Harbour (Nevis) Ltd this week and assured the affected workers that the government will pursue all legal options to make sure they’re not shortchanged.
“I wish to go on record on behalf on the Government, the citizens of this Country and in defense of our industrial relations history and integrity to denounce the callous, unprofessional and disrespectful action of the Clear Harbour (Nevis) Ltd. which violates every principle and percept of common decency, justice and respect for law and accepted moral norms,” he said in Parliament yesterday.
Condor gave the assurance that every effort would be made and every relevant institution would be deployed to address this matter in the interest of the employees and the twin-island federation’s industrial relations integrity.
“I further wish to note that every legal option would be also explored in an effort to ensure that this matter is justly dealt with,” he added.
Clear Harbour Nevis Ltd, the executing agency for Comcast, an Internet Cable Provider based in the USA, sent home the workers on Wednesday without any prior notice.
Condor said the company had violated various labour laws.
He told Parliament that Clear Harbour officials had scheduled a meeting with the Department of Labour for precisely the same time it sent home the workers. According to Condor, the officials contacted the Department of Labour to “break” what was termed the “bad news” and tendered a letter to the Labour Commissioner which addressed the matter of the closure.
Referring to the Protection of Employment Act, he said Clear Harbour should given the Labour Commissioner no less than one month notice before any proposed layoff or termination and provided information about the number and categories of employees affected; the period over which the terminations were intended to be carried out; and a summary of the results of any consultations with any Trade Union representing the employees.
“The record shows that Clear Harbour did not adhere to this legal obligation, indeed may not have had any intention of doing so,” Condor said.
He said he made a personal intervention at a meeting held with the Labour Commissioner and it was concluded that Clear Habour must pay all due payments prescribed by law.
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