Labour Commissioner says country is slow to implement ILO conventions.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Labour Commissioner has admitted to shying away from attending International Labour Organisation (ILO) meeting on the country’s behalf due to the country’s concerning track record of non-compliance.

“I am one even though there is an opportunity to attend the International Labour Conference I kind of shy away because I am representing Antigua and Barbuda and Antigua and Barbuda is not compliant”, she said.

Eltonia Rojas said the country is usually among the first to ratify conventions, but fail to follow through with the implementation phase.

“I am convinced that the call for this year’s theme, the call for social justice and decent work for workers is actually a reflection that we are not upholding the international labour standards that we have signed on to”.

“If we were social justice and decent work would have been the order of the day in all workplaces,” Rojas said.

She stated further, “Our membership to the ILO is voluntary and we have been displaying the disturbing trend of being first to ratify and almost last to implement or uphold the Labour standards”.

She said most nationals on island are perhaps unaware.

The Labour Commissioner was at the time addressing the Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union Congress Labour Day rally.

She said it is important for leaders in the country and workers to be knowledgeably about some of the international conventions the country has signed on to.