Media Release - Minister of Labour appoints Members to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee and to the National Productivity Council

 

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Monday 9 October, 2023

 

Minister of Labour, the Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie has appointed 14 new members to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee and he has also appointed 16 new members to the National Productivity Council at two separate signing ceremonies. Both Appointment ceremonies were held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at the Ministry of Labour’s Head Office, International Waterfront Towers, Port of Spain.

In the first ceremony, the members received their letters of appointment, Ms. Natalie Willis, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour returns as the Chairperson for the ILO 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee. Other Members include: Mr. Ian Rampersad, Ms. Simmone Castle, Ms. Omalisa Baldeo and Ms. Antonia White representing Government;Ms. Marlene Gervais, Mr. Ruben McSween, Ms. Dianne Joseph and Ms. Brithney Wright representing Employers;Mr.Trevor Johnson (Deputy Chairperson), Ms. Sharon Lakhan-King, Mr. Clifton Simpson and Mr. Bryan St. Louis representing Workers and Ms. Cherisse Coward serving as the Technical Secretary. 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) 144 Tripartite Committee was established by Cabinet in May 1996 to fulfill the requirements of ILO Convention No. 144 on Tripartite Consultations (International Labour Standards), 1976, which was ratified by Trinidad and Tobago in 1995. The Committee undertakes the effective consultation among designated representatives of Government, Employers and Workers in connection with matters concerning International Labour Standards and their application as far as is necessary and appropriate in relation to the national circumstances of Trinidad and Tobago. This Committee is expected to serve from 2023-2025.

The second signing ceremony which took place in the afternoon, saw Dr. André Vincent Henry, Director of the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studiesreceiving his letter of appointment as the new Chairperson for the National Productivity Council.  Other Members include: Ms. Natalie Willis, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Ms. Abigail Bynoe, Ms. Karen Ramkissoon, Ms. Camille Macintyre, Ms. Tashay Francis, Mr. Andre Blanchard, Mr. Armand Jackson (representing Government); Dr. Christian Stone, Ms. Brithney Wright, Mr. Hayden Newton (representing Employers); Mr. Jason Brown, Ms. Felisha Thomas (representing Workers); Dr. Paul Balwant, Ms. Cavelle Joseph-St. Omer (representing Academia and Civil Society) and Mr. Narendra Balroop serving as the Interim Technical Secretary.

 

The mandate of the National Productivity Council is as follows:

1. To promote and develop greater productivity and quality awareness and consciousness of the people of Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with key stakeholders.
2. To inculcate new values and attitudes in Trinidad and Tobago regarding productivity, quality and competitiveness.
3. To develop guidelines for the establishment and operation of a National Productivity Centre.
4. To prepare an operational budget for the National Productivity Centre and include an immediate and long-term funding mechanism.
5. To establish a system of documentation and dissemination of information relating to productivity.
6. To advise Government on the formulation of national policies and strategies on all aspects of productivity, quality and competitiveness.
7. To identify constraints to the improvement of productivity, quality and competitiveness and propose remedial measures to be taken.
8. To serve as a focal point on all matters pertaining to productivity, quality and competitiveness.
9. To develop and adopt a set of key productivity indicators for Trinidad and Tobago.
10.  To design and conduct relevant productivity surveys.

This National Productivity Council is expected to serve for a term of 2023-2026.

  

Members of ILO 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee 

 The Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour (centre), flanked by Ms. Natalie Willis (Permanent Secretary and Chairperson) to his left, is joined by other members of the ILO 144 Tripartite Consultative Committee.  From L-R: Cherisse Coward (Technical Secretary), Dianne Joseph, Simmone Castle, Ruben McSween,  Marlene Gervais, Trevor Johnson (Deputy Chairperson), Clifton Simpson, Bryan St. Louis, Antonia White, Sharon Lakhan-King 

Missing: Ian Rampersad, Omalisa Baldeo, Brithney Wright

 

 Members of the National Productivity Council 

The Honourable Stephen Mc Clashie, Minister of Labour (centre), flanked by Ms. Natalie Willis (Permanent Secretary and Member) to his right, is joined by other members of the National Productivity Council.  From L – R: Felisha Thomas, Cavelle Joseph-St. Omer, Camille Macintyre, Dr. André Vincent Henry (Chairperson), Hayden Newton, Andre Blanchard, Dr. Paul Balwant, Karen Ramkissoon, Dr. Christian Stone, Mr. Narendra Balroop (Technical Secretary – Interim).

Missing: Abigail Bynoe, Tashay Francis, Armand Jackson, Brithney Wright, Jason Brown

 

 

For further information please visit the Ministry’s website at www.labour.gov.tt. Or contact the Corporate Communications Unit: Tel: 625-8478 Ext. 1203,1509,1208 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

 

 

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