The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

and NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

Department of Labour inspections have generated "sufficient concern" for the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce to warn its members about the need for full compliance with the Industrial Relations Act.

Edison Sumner, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) chief executive, told Tribune Business: "We got some indications back from the Labour Department about a number of reports that were being filed, either by employees who felt that they were having some major grievances with employers, or that there were some companies in certain areas who were committing infractions.

"This was particularly with regard to the kind of personnel that they have hired, how the business is being conducted, whether it is licensed or unlicensed, and also the kind of environment people were working in."

Mr Sumner said that as a result of its meeting with the Department of Labour last week, the Chamber felt it necessary to issue the advisory as "a precaution".

"They highlighted a couple of instances that we felt warranted putting out an advisory to the business community to ensure they do not do anything that brings undue attention to themselves," he added.

"There were some issues that came to our attention, and the advisory was sent out as a precaution to ensure the business community remains fully compliant with the law."

The Chamber advisory said "a number of complaints" had been made to the Department of Labour for "various labour and employment infractions" by businesses.

It urged companies to be "in full compliance" with the Industrial Relations Act "at all times" to avoid penalties and prosecution, and emphasised that labour Inspectors can make random, unannounced inspections and "demand labour and employment records for up to three years".

"Employers who are non-compliant could find themselves facing serious consequences, which would only result in significant inconvenience and loss of time and financial resources," the Chamber added.

"The BCCEC strongly encourages its members and private sector businesses and employers to always operate in full compliance with relevant laws and to always provide fair and equitable treatment to their staff and employees."

Mr Sumner said issues uncovered during Department of Labour inspections, and which were brought to the Chamber's attention, "gave us sufficient concern to put this advisory out".

"This does not refer to the majority of businesses," he explained. "It was a very small percentage of businesses that we were told had some kind of infraction; the majority were compliant.

"We want to be sure that the employers in the country are made aware they can be inspected at any time, and are not doing anything that could be avoided.... One of the issues was record-keeping. Labour inspectors are able to ask for records going back three years - labour records, employment records, or anything else that's relevant."

Mr Sumner said some businesses were unable to produce these records when requested, and identified other issues as the proper display of Business Licenses and tax certificates.

"These are simple things, but they could warrant fines and penalties," he added. "There were a couple of issues raised of a more serious nature, but these are being dealt with at the Department of Labour level.

"We want to make sure that all businesses, particularly those who are members of the Chamber are operating their establishments in a way that is fair and equitable to their staff, and not violating any rules as it relates to how the business is being operated."