GOVERNMENT Senator Kavan Gayle, in a wide-ranging presentation on the evolving labour market landscape and the protection of workers’ rights, on Friday threw his full support behind tourism workers, particularly the employees of luxury hotel Royalton Negril who last month protested about poor working conditions. The protest, which resulted in the immediate suspension of the general manager and the subsequent seperation of a senior manager from the entity this month, saw workers raising concern about the poor treatment of staff by the management, inadequate pay, and being overworked, among other things. “As a trade unionist I stand with the Royalton Hotel employees in their recent industrial action, advocating for fair wages, better employment terms, and respectful treatment,” Gayle said as he opened the State of the Nation debate in the Senate on Friday.
Gayle, who dedicated a significant portion of his speech to advocate for workers in the tourism industry, which he deemed the lifeblood of the economy, stressed that multinational hotel chains, including Royalton, should adhere to labour standards and provide competitive, liveable wages to their workforce. He argued that corporations must recognise their duty to sustain ethical and globally competitive wage structures, particularly in regions with economic challenges. “Multinationals must uphold both local and international labour standards, ensuring fair working hours, equitable treatment, safe workplaces, and repres.