A week of activities to celebrate Labour Day has been held under the theme: Workers–the Key to Economic Development.

The Department of Labour in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, the Trade Union Federation, the National Workers Union, the Civil Service Association and the Saint Lucia Employers Federation have this week been engaged in a series of activities leading up to the celebration of Labour Day observed every year on May 1.

The week of activities has been held under the theme: Workers–the Key to Economic Development.

Some of the events planned and so far executed for the week include a series of hour-long talks to Form Four students at schools around the island. The presentations to the students have focused on the “Role of the Trade Union Movement to Economic Development” and have been delivered by representatives of the various trade unions and officers from the Department of Labour.

Other activities for the week have included participation in radio and television call-in programs through which representatives from the trade unions, the employers and the Department of Labour have addressed a range of issues of importance to workers.

A radio and television address by the Minister for Education, Human Resource Development and Labour, Dr. Hon. Robert Lewis was recorded for broadcast on Thursday, April 28, in observance of “World Occupational Safety and Health Day” as declared by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Minister also used this address to speak to workers ahead of the observance of May Day.

The Department of Labour, as part of the observance of the week of activities leading up to May Day will also launch its website at the offices of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Port Services. The website will provide a readily accessible means through which the department will provide relevant information to the public and receive feedback in a timely manner.

Activities to celebrate May Day 2016 culminates with an afternoon of musical entertainment at Serenity Park on May 2.

The free event will provide workers with the opportunity to relax, mingle and enjoy good music as Saint Lucia prepares to celebrate 25 years of the Jazz Festival.