Iberostar workers protest for better wages
Iberostar workers protest for better wages . WESTERN BUREAU: For the second time this week, disgruntled hotel workers in Montego Bay, the nation’s tourism capital, have staged a protest to voice their frustration over low wages and other grievances.  The action has sparked fresh concerns...
The Gleaner
WESTERN BUREAU:

For the second time this week, disgruntled hotel workers in Montego Bay, the nation’s tourism capital, have staged a protest to voice their frustration over low wages and other grievances.

The action has sparked fresh concerns within the sector as the critical winter tourist season approaches.

Following similar protests at prominent properties like Secrets and Breathless resorts earlier in the week, and at Royalton Negril on October 22, employees of the Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay, St James, gathered at the property’s entrance on Thursday. Armed with placards, they decried what they described as inadequate pay.

“Slavery abolish inna Jamaica from 1834 and these people treating us like we are slaves…they are working us into the ground and refusing to pay us properly,” said one of the protesting workers.

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“This has been simmering for a long time but when we see Royalton Negril and Secrets step out, we have to come out and highlight our situation too…tourism look good on the outside, but the workers are suffering under low wages.”

In response to earlier protests at Secrets and Breathless resorts, Labour Minister Pearnel Charles Jr emphasised the importance of proactive communication between workers and management to prevent disputes from escalating into public demonstrations.

“There is a need for ongoing dialogue between management and staff. Establishing internal mechanisms for addressing issues early can lead to amicable resolutions,” Charles said. He praised the swift resolution of the Secrets and Breathless protest as a positive example of cooperation between management and workers.

However, Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism, Senator Janice Allen, has criticised the Government’s handling of worker grievances. She accused Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett of failing to act decisively to prevent these issues from escalating.

“Minister Bartlett has not taken the necessary steps to address the concerns within the tourism sector. If he had been more attentive to the needs of workers and investors and acted swiftly, the industry would not be in this current state of turmoil as we approach the winter tourist season,” Allen said.

She called for calm and urged the Government to work collaboratively with the Opposition to develop long-term solutions. “I encourage the Government to engage with us in crafting effective strategies to restore confidence in the sector. Ensuring stability before the winter tourist season is vital,” Allen added.

After the Royalton Negril protest, Minister Bartlett visited the property, held discussions with workers and management, and shared a meal with staff. This approach appeared to restore order and satisfaction among employees. However, the chants of “We want more money” at Iberostar suggest that broader issues remain unresolved within the sector.

Tourism is considered the crown jewel of Jamaica’s economy, accounting for 50 per cent of foreign exchange earnings and providing roughly a quarter of all jobs on the island.

Efforts to reach Iberostar management, owned by Spanish billionaire Miguel Fluxá Rosselló, were unsuccessful. Calls to his phone went unanswered.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica
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2024-11-16
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WESTERN BUREAU: For the second time this week, disgruntled hotel workers in Montego Bay, the nation’s tourism capital, have staged a protest to voice their frustration over low wages and other grievances.  The action has sparked fresh concerns...
Iberostar workers protest for better wages