The Department of Labour and Workforce Development’s long awaited Employer Orientation will be launched next month.

The primary objective of the orientation sessions is to promote sound labour practices in the workplace. Benefits that are expected to be derived from these meetings include: building employer awareness and compliance on Health & Safety and Labour Relations matters; reducing unauthorised employment within the Territory; decreasing the number of reported disputes by informing employers of a company’s rights as prescribed by the Labour Code, 2010 and strengthening the relationship between employers and the department.

The sessions will also provide information about the improvements within the department and the associated benefits for employer attendance; and provide an opportunity for employers to ask questions and obtain accurate information on employment and/or labour related matters.

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent Wheatley said, “The ability for the Department of Labour and Workforce Development to create a tailored orientation programme for employers speaks to their mandate to foster a better working environment. This initiative will allow for employers to be better aware of their rights and their employees’ rights under the Labour Code and this all plays into the Ministry’s’ mandate to evolve the BVI Workforce.”

Sessions for employers located on Tortola will be held on the third Tuesday of every month from 2:00 p.m. at the department’s office, located at the Ashley Ritter Building in Road Town. Registration is now open for the first session to be held on Tuesday, March 17. Employers should contact the department at (284) 468-9578 or email kcupid-braithwaite@gov.vg, as space is  limited.

Orientation schedules for the islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke will be announced at a later date.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development continues to promote good labour and management practices at workplaces to ensure stable and harmonious labour relations between employers and employees, and to protect the rights, wages, working conditions, safety, health and welfare of workers through enforcement of the British Virgin Islands Labour Code.

Photo Captions: 

Photo 1: Department of Labour and Workforce Development Logo

Photo 2: Official Photo of Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent Wheatley (Photo credit: GIS)