The Bankers, Insurance, and General Workers Trade Union has called the government’s National Recruitment Drive “a serious and reckless blunder” and called for an end to the program.
BIGWU said it noted with grave concern the Recruitment Drive, which it claims, advertises positions that are already occupied by existing job holders.
“This is not an administrative oversight—this is a serious and reckless blunder that exposes the government to major legal consequences,” BIGWU president Don Devenish stated in a media release.
Mr Devenish added that by publicly advertising positions that are already filled the government has created a situation that strikes fear at the heart of the employment relationship.
“The State is effectively telling that worker, ‘Your job may not be yours anymore.’ This is a clear breach of contract and, in law, can amount to constructive dismissal,” he said.
The BIGWU head said the move is contrary to the principles of good industrial relations practice, and can have profound psychological and economic consequences.
“To see ones position advertised as vacant is a deeply distressing and humiliating experience,” Mr Devenish said.
BIGWU called on the government to immediately withdraw the advertisements, issue a public apology, and take urgent steps to ensure this is not repeated.
“Workers are not disposable. They are not placeholders. Their rights, dignity, and peace of mind must never be collateral damage in the name of recruitment,” said Mr Devenish.
“They are the backbone of this nation, and their dignity and security must never be sacrificed on the altar of poor administration.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Thursday during a visit to the Recruitment Drive center in Couva, that the program would create real, sustainable jobs.
“You could not do it with Cepep and URP. That was just hand-to-mouth feeding. That is a kind of slavery. That is how I saw it, and I was very determined not to put people through that kind of slavery, and some members of my Cabinet fought me. But we did this and this will work,” the Prime Minister said.
