Reference no: EM132747820

The presence of the Caribbean Community (CARI COM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) stipulates free movement of goods, capital and labour among 15 CARI COM States. This suggests that a skilled migrant worker from one CARI COM territory, in possession of a CARI COM Skilled Worker Certificate should be treated on equal terms as a skilled worker from a host nation. But equity is not always afforded a migrant worker in the formal labour market, especially in the case of contract or flexible labour. Indeed, the era of CSME is associated with the onslaught of flexible labour contracts with immigrant workers freelancing for work. With many migrant employees working for periods that are more than six months but less.than five years, their level of labour protection may be suboptimal. Basic worker rights are occasionally ignored by employers, who quietly discriminate against workers from other CARICOM nations. For example, when workers migrate from a weaker economy to a relatively stronger economy within the CSME, the enticement of higher wages and a better standard of living are obvious. Yet, in the past decade, there have been reports of employee discrimination against immigrants in the Construction and Security Services sectors, for example. It is alleged that some host-nation's employers underpay migrant workers who have a similar level of skill as their native counterparts. In a few cases, there are stories about pregnant women being unable to access Maternity Leave, even after working in a company for more than two years. And there are reports about unfair dismissal without employers engaging in due process. In some instances, hardworking migrant employees of several years are denied leisure leave. Some employers rationalise that they are paying migrant workers significantly above the Minimum Wage and committing to Statutory Deductions like national insurance, so there is no major need for concern about worker rights/abuses. Hence, many migrant workers stay quiet, out of desperation to keep their jobs, choosing not to 'associate with others' to lobby for labour protection.

Question A. Describe THREE (3) benefits of 'possible' trade union membership for. CSME migrant workers

Question B. Suggest THREE (3) Labour Laws that should be harmonised in CSME, to protect CSME migrant workers from discrirnination.

Question C. Use the Maternity Leave Act relevant to your country, to explain workers' right to return to work.

Question D. State TWO (2) 'institutional actors' in the CARICOM region who can collaborate more actively to propagate labour market protection for all CSME participants.