BCP 2014 Manifesto Draft Final

• Strengthen social dialogue by establishing an Independent Tripartite Council which
will bring the unions, employer organisations and government together to promote
harmonious industrial relations, ensure that effective bargaining is promoted and
propose legislative changes required for ensuring work place justice. In addition,
the Council will on an ongoing basis address issues of productivity by the
workforce.
• Improve Dispute Resolution mechanisms as a matter of urgency. Dispute resolution
in the work place shall be removed from the Ministry of Labour. An independent
body responsible for Mediation and Arbitration shall be established with powers
to timeously adjudicate over disputes.
• Move the Industrial Court from the Ministry of Labour and set it as a specialised
court of the High Court. At appeals level, there shall be a Labour Appeal’s Court.
• Actively encourage the unionization of workers, particularly private sector workers,
domestic and agricultural sector workers to promote collective bargaining in the
work place.
• Support Family Responsibilities at the Workplace - we shall introduce full pay
for mothers on maternity leave and increase maternity leave to 14 weeks in line
with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Maternity Protection Convention
of 2000.
• Introduce a living wage for workers that is aligned to the cost of living.
• We will introduce compulsory pension legislation for all workers.
• Introduce Legislation on Sexual Harassment – we shall initiate legislation which
will provide for prevention and penalization of sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Realign the Scope of Essential Services – We shall align the definition and scope
of essential services to the 1994 ILO Committee of Standards position.
• Facilitate ownership of shares by workers in public corporations.
• Put in place a comprehensive strategy that will ensure a skilled labour force.
READY TO LEAD
BCP 2014-2019 MANIFESTO
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