‘He never, ever talks about the deplorable conditions we have to work in…’

By Mark Kappart 

Tourism workers across Jamaica are dissatisfied with low wages and dismal working conditions and are calling on the Government and hotel owners to address these issues and improve morale.

Earlier this week, tourism workers in St James staged protests demanding better wages and working conditions, finding solidarity and sympathy with other workers across Jamaica.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has now taken up the matter, writing to Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr.

Part of the letter read: “The issues are creating distress and discontent among the workforce which directly impacts the well-being of the workers and the stability of the industry.”

Only last month, workers at the Royalton Negril protested about working conditions and how they are poorly treated by management. That matter gained both national and international attention. It was addressed expeditiously.

But the complaints there are echoed across the major resorts in Jamaica and in this social media/TikTok age, workers are able to gain attention.

“Ed Bartlett is always talking about how many visitors are coming to Jamaica and the money they bring in. He never, ever talks about the deplorable conditions we have to work in and the pittance we get paid. He doesn’t care about Jamaican tourism workers, he only cares about how much money can he get from the big hotel operators,” said Duncan Matthews from Secrets, Montego Bay.

The Ministry of Tourism did intervene in the Royalton Negril situation and was able to see to it that employees now have better working conditions and that wages were increased in some cases. The conditions and wages of tourism workers in Jamaica are systemic.

As much as 70 cents in every tourism dollar is repatriated and there is little concern for the financial welfare of Jamaican line workers who are left to subsist. Some say working at Jamaican hotels is a form of indentured servitude. The President of the JCTU, St Patrice Ennis believes there should be collective bargaining and fair labour practices upheld.

“If the Government says tourism is important to Jamaica and brings in over US$4 billion a year, then why doesn’t it ensure that workers are treated fairly. They just don’t care but yet bow and scape to the big foreign hotel owners while allowing us to suffer,” said a barman at the Moon Palace Hotel in Ocho Rios.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr spoke on this contentious matter saying, “We will be conducting an industry assessment. We will be establishing the Tourism Relations Working Group to dive down into these issues to see what are the concerns, what are the potential solutions and to advance what is called ‘a decent work agenda’. Workers should have the right to stand up and say, we have a problem.”

Some guests at the Royalton Negril Hotel where the walk-out took place, sympathised with workers there acknowledging the conditions and treatment meted out to them was appalling and should be brought to light. The real problem is many of these managers are foreigners and have little regard for the little Jamaican busting their tail. They talk down to us and they don’t care about our lives. There needs to be more Jamaican managers who can be sympathetic and understand their workers. Bartlett needs to pay attention to that, said Wesley Harris who worked at Iberostar.

The JCTU is calling for the formation of a Joint Industrial Council to address these matters that are causing unrest in the tourism industry. This council will serve to improve standards across the industry and see to it that workers are treated fairly and with decency.

Yesterday, workers at Iberostar staged a protest and bemoaned poor wages, terrible working conditions and a lack of representation to resolve their concerns.

“There are some big-brand all-inclusive hotels that insist workers cannot receive tips from the tourists. Some of the foreign tourists are kind and can see our position and try to give us something to make up for the low wages. They can’t believe what we get paid and ask how can we live on that. Good question but Bartlett and the Government don’t care. The tips would help to make up for the low wages we get, everybody benefits.,” said Patrice Spence a dining staffer at Swept Away.

The job of the Ministry of Tourism is to ensure visitors come to the island and so it places emphasis on promotion and marketing. It is the Ministry of Labour that has to see to it that workers receive a livable wage, have decent conditions and are treated fairly.

A former manager at Couples Negril, Albert Cummings, said: “There is talk of establishing this tourism council to address these matters. They always wait until the matter gets out of hand and gets into the media. This has been going on for years and these protests are bringing it to everyone’s attention. The guests are appalled at how Jamaican hotel workers are treated. Some even try and help out.

“If they are serious about this council they need Josef Forstmayer from Round Hill on it. For years he has treated his workers well and takes an interest in their welfare. You never hear of protests and disgruntlement there. He runs a happy camp and he treats his workers with respect. Other hotel managers can learn from him.”