In a significant move to strengthen worker protections, Barbados’ government has enacted legislation guaranteeing permanent appointments for public service employees who have served in acting positions for three years or more. The landmark bill, which requires constitutional majority approval, received House of Assembly endorsement on Tuesday.
Labour Minister Colin Jordan championed the initiative as demonstrating the administration’s profound respect for public servants and commitment to workforce dignity. “This legislation exemplifies a government that not only respects the exemplary work of public officers but actively enacts measures to ensure their job security,” Jordan stated during parliamentary proceedings.
The Minister elaborated on eligibility criteria, specifying that employees who have maintained acting roles for three consecutive years will be automatically granted permanent status effective January 1, 2026, unless their position is project-based with defined start and end dates. “If you have been acting for three years, it signifies your essential role within the organization,” Jordan explained.
Concurrently, the government has ratified multiple International Labour Organisation conventions previously agreed upon but never implemented. These include Occupational Safety and Health Conventions 155 and 187, the Nursing Personnel Convention (No. 149), Domestic Workers Convention (No. 189), and the Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190).
Minister Jordan emphasized the administration’s worker-centric philosophy: “We are committed to recognizing workers’ humanity, ensuring dignity in employment, and advancing the concept of decent work through concrete legislative action.”
The legislation incorporates an appeals mechanism whereby public officers who perceive unfair treatment may petition the President for review. Jordan highlighted this provision as evidence of the government’s commitment to fairness and justice, noting that previous appeal processes have yielded successful outcomes for many workers.
While acknowledging the bill isn’t a universal solution, Jordan characterized it as a substantial step toward enhancing job security and institutional stability within Barbados’ public sector.