Pearnel Charles

ST ANDREW:

Pearnel Charles, minister of labour and social security, has said a new approach to industrial relations in Jamaica is coming.

According to the minister, the new approach would be built on partnership and cooperation and will move industrial relations in the country from the 20th to the 21st century. Charles was speaking at a dinner hosted by bauxite/alumina company Jamalco to recognise Sharon Brown, former human resources and administration manager at the Hilton Kingston hotel on Saturday.

"We must look at industrial relations with a new vision of partnership and cooperation. The old paradigm of master and servant and oppression has got us nowhere. The investor's capital is his labour and the worker's labour is his capital," said Charles.

The minister noted this new approach required the education of and building of trust and respect among all players as the way forward would be difficult and challenging. He said lock-out of workers by management, and workers walking off the job, must be things of the past. "Disputes must be settled at the bargaining table," he said.

Brown resigned from Jamalco at the end of September after 24 years with the company. She was the first Jamaican Financial Controller and first female manager at Jamalco.