As Antigua and Barbuda’s main labor organization continues to bridge the knowledge gap for young people entering the job market, graduating seniors at the Antigua & Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) gained hands-on, practical insight into employee protections and workplace entitlements this week.
The interactive workshop, headed by Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) President Kem Riley, centered its discussion on Section C of the country’s official Labour Code. Over the session, attendees walked through a range of high-stakes, commonly misunderstood topics, from required employment paperwork and standard working hour regulations to overtime compensation, premium pay guarantees, paid sick leave entitlements, and the fundamental legal right to organize through a union.
Tailored specifically for students who are gearing up to complete mandatory internships as a key requirement of their degree programs, the session was structured to encourage open dialogue around employer expectations and the legal safeguards that protect entry-level workers. Many young people transition into full or part-time employment and internships without a clear grasp of the rights guaranteed to them under local labor law, Riley explained, making this proactive education a core priority for the union’s youth outreach strategy.
“This workshop series has been a staple of our work for several years running, and we view it as a central part of ABWU’s core mandate to educate the next generation of workers,” Riley shared in remarks during the event. “This kind of grassroots education is the foundation of our work to defend and expand the rights and benefits that all working people are entitled to.”
Student feedback on the training was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees highlighting that the session filled a critical gap in their academic preparation for the workforce. One final-year Public Administration student noted that the group had absorbed an enormous amount of actionable information in just a single session. Another student added that the presentation demystified the role of unions and workplace advocacy for early-career workers, a topic that rarely gets covered in standard college coursework.
“ I now have a much clearer understanding of what it means to be part of a union, and how I can advocate for myself and stand up for my rights in the workplace,” the student said.
As the cohort prepares to enter their internships and cross the graduation stage in the coming months, the ABWU closed the session by extending well wishes to all participating students, emphasizing that the union remains a resource for them as they begin their professional journeys.