Monday, February 8 – The Draft Labour Code, 2009 will receive its second and third readings when the fourth sitting of the third session of the first House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands convenes on Tuesday, 9 February at 10 a.m.

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Omar W. Hodge will move a motion for the bill to receive its second and third readings which will move the code one step closer to enactment.

Speaking with the Department of Information and Public Relations, Minister Hodge stated the importance of the legislation.

“Our labour force is an integral part of our Territory’s economy and we must have an orderly well-regulated code to govern our labour practices.  Formulating a code necessary for development is of keen importance to the Territory and our economy,” Hon. Hodge said.

At Tuesday’s sitting, members of the House will have a document that contains the comments received from the public following the release of the Bill for public review,  in addition to the Draft Labour Code Bill.

All comments have been catalogued sequentially based on the areas of the code they address and members of the House will consider the comments as they deliberate on the Bill clause by clause to determine what the final draft of the Labour Code will contain.

Labour Consultant and Attorney at Law Mr. Clive Pegus will be present during the discussion of the draft code.  Also present will be Mr. John Nyadu, Parliamentary Counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers.

The Draft Labour Code received its introduction and first reading when the House of Assembly convened on Tuesday, 29 December, 2009.

Once approved, the new labour code will be Government’s mechanism to address the Territory’s system of labour administration which includes labour disputes, employee health and safety issues and work permit processing.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Department of Labour are both anticipating a code that is balanced and fair to both employers and employees.

It is the ministry’s hope that a new labour code will allow for the efficient management of the labour market and at the same time address the Territory’s need for migrant workers, while facilitating opportunities for British Virgin Islanders and Belongers.

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