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Union says Saturday is a Public Holiday by law

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The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union is aware of a release from of the Office of Labour Commissioner regarding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day holiday.

The Union sort further clarity from the Labour Commissioner having had differing views as it pertains to Saturday December 25th not being recognized and observed as a public holiday.

The Union further consulted with the Labour Minister, who agreed wholeheartedly with the position of the Labour Commissioner.

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union has consulted with Counsel and is of the opinion that Saturday December 25th, 2021, should be recognized as a public holiday, and employees who work on that day should be paid accordingly due to the fact thatChristmas Day is and has always been a common law holiday and is considered part of the sacred Christian calendar of Common Law holidays and is recognized in The Public Holidays Act Cap 354 as such, along with Good Friday and Sundays.

The Explanatory Note to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill of 2019 sort to clarify the rationale for the amendments being sought and further stated that if Christmas Day and Boxing falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday and Tuesday will be holidays and if Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday are declared as holidays.

No where does it state that Christmas Day was being abolished as a common law holiday. And the Bill was made law without any changes to its statutory provisions.

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We at the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union are of the firm view that employees who work on Saturday December 31, 2021 should be paid for work on a public holiday.

We have advised the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Labour that given our differing views, we shall be seeking an interpretation of the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2019 from the Courts.

Once found correct, we will be demanding that employers pay employees proper compensation for work done on Saturday December 25th, 2021.

We further urge the Hon. Attorney General to rethink and review his position against the background of the legislation because Good Friday, Christmas Day and Sundays have always been considered as part of the Christian calendar of holidays representing the death, birth and resurrection of Christ, our risen Savior. And there is no legislative provision which alters or revokes that common law position.

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One response to “Union says Saturday is a Public Holiday by law”

  1. We have soo many conflicting views pertaining to worker’s rights In ANU. Who should we listen too? Who Is exploiting the workers? We need SERIOUS help pertaining to policies in this place. Guys please get IT right/straight.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]