Social Dialogue Workshop

June 25, 2012:

Social Dialogue, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO), refers to all types of negotiation, consultation or simply exchange of information between, or among, representatives of governments, employers and workers, on issues of common interest relating to economic and social policy.  It can exist as a tripartite process, with the government as an official party to the dialogue or it may consist of bipartite relations only between labour and management (or trade unions and employers' organizations), with or without indirect government involvement. It may also take the form of tripartite plus dialogue which includes civil society as an integral partner in the process.

As a first step towards establishing a Social Dialogue Process in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development will be hosting a two-day Workshop, commencing Tuesday 26th June, 2012, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre from 9:00 a.m.

Under the theme: “Towards People-Centred Development: Social Dialogue as the Key Driver”, the Workshop will bring together the tripartite partners from Aruba, Barbados and Jamaica as well as government representatives from Singapore and Mauritius to share information on their respective countries’ Social Dialogue Process.  Local participants will include representatives of government, business, trade unions and civil society as well as the youth.

The Workshop will feature a keynote address by the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of the Rebublic of Trinidad and Tobago as well as remarks from the Honourable Errol McLeod, Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development.

The main goal of Social Dialogue itself is to promote consensus building and democratic involvement among the main stakeholders in the world of work or at the national level, where it has become an important component of good governance in many countries.

Your presence and coverage of this event will be greatly appreciated.