The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be extending its probe into the working conditions of workers in wholesale stores to the entire Corporate Area, according to Faith Innerarity, chief technical director in the ministry.

Meanwhile, the initial probe of wholesale establishments in downtown Kingston, following the findings of a study which asserts that women employed in these establishments were being made to work in conditions which are in breach of the law, will be completed next week.

Not restricting probe

"We are not restricting our probe to downtown Kingston only, we are also looking at the Corporate Area," she told The Gleaner on Monday.

Last week, the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union called for a full investigation into the working conditions in all wholesale and retail operations across the country.

But on Monday, Innerarity said the islandwide probe was not possible at this time because of the shortage of staff at the ministry's Pay and Conditions of Employment Branch.

She said that under the new Occupation Health and Safety Act, the shortage should be addressed.