THE LABOUR FORCE

CHAPTER 22
OBJECTIVE
 To look at issues related to
employment, unemployment and the
rights of workers
 To examine the causes of
unemployment and under-employment
 To examine the role of trade unions
 The become familiar with some of the
laws and international conventions
which protect the rights of workers
The Labour Force
 All people between the ages of 16 to
60/65 years of age who are capable
and willing to work
 Consists of people who are working and
people who are looking for work
 Labour Force in Trinidad and Tobago
 What trends do you notice from the statistics of
the labour force between 1999 and 2001?
 Compare the data for males and females in the
labour force between 1999 and 2001.

Labour 1999 2000 2001

Force
Both Sexes 563,400 572,900 576,400
Males 348,000 353,100 356,600
Females 215,400 219,800 219,800
Unemployment Figures in Trinidad and Tobago
 What do you notice about the unemployment trends
between 1999 and 2001?
 Which of the sexes experienced a higher unemployment
rate?
 Look at the figures for the total labour force and the
total unemployed then calculate the total number of
people who are employed for 1999, 2000, 2001
(subtract)
Total 1999 2000 2001
Unemployed
Both Sexes 74,100 69,600 62,400
Males 37,900 36,100 30,700
Females 36,200 33,500 31,700
 Types of workers:
 Primary:
 workers involved in producing/extracting resources
that are original or in their natural state e.g. mining
crude oil
 Secondary:
 workers involved in producing goods using raw
materials provided by primary workers e.g. refining
crude oil to obtain gasoline, bitumen etc
 Tertiary:
 workers involved in providing for the primary and
secondary workers e.g. insurance, transport and
banking
Unemployable
 Under the age of 16
 Over the age of 60/65 and not seeking
employment
 Persons pursuing full-time education
 Persons serving prison sentences
 Persons suffering from debilitating diseases
which render them incapable of work
 People who lack the basic skills and fail to
meet the minimum requirements for a job
Employed
 Person has a full-time job and earns a
salary or wage consistent with the
qualifications he/she possesses.
 Unemployment

 A situation where a
person in the labour
force is capable and
willing to work but No
vacancy

has not found a job

Underemployment
 Occurs when:
 a person has a
temporary job and
works part-time,
rather than full-time
 persons accept jobs
for which they are
over-qualified
because jobs for
which they are
qualified are
unavailable
 Causes of Unemployment
 Too few vacancies in certain fields (clerks,
teachers, secretaries)
 Failure of the education system (focus on
academics rather than skills)
 Foreign exploitation of our major natural
resources
 Capital intensive industries replacing intensive
ones
 High level of importation
 High birth rate
Causes of Unemployment
 Underdeveloped agricultural sector, low profit
margins, not attractive to the labour force
 High wages negotiated by trade unions keep
profit margins low and hinder expansion of
businesses
 High level of imports for the tourism sector
(furniture, equipment, meals etc)
 Money for development borrowed from
foreign countries causing a shortage of
finance (lack of capital)
How can unemployment (and
poverty) be reduced?
 Greater industrialization
 Support and expand the agricultural sector
 Develop more downstream industries
 School curricula should emphasize tech/voc
subjects such as welding, auto mechanics,
electrical installation, beauty culture, agri-science,
masonry and plumbing.
 Promote tourist industry
 Regional cooperation
 Make workers shareholders increased
productivity
 Control birth rate via family p0lanning education
(reduced population=reduced unemployment)
 When you are looking for a job it would
help if you could see yourself from the
employer’s point of view. All employers
look for certain qualities or personal
attributes in addition to the skills that you
are required to possess for that particular
job.
 Top 10 qualities employers
look for:
1. Communication 6. Strong work ethic
skills 7. Flexibility and
2. Honesty and adaptability
integrity 8. Analytical skills/
3. Teamwork skills Resourcefulness
4. Interpersonal skills 9. Computer skills
5. Motivation and 10. Organisational skills
initiative
Issues affecting people in the
workplace
 Sexual harassment
 Gender discrimination
 Ethnic/religious discrimination
 Unsafe working conditions
 Low wages
WORKER’S PLIGHT
Trinidad and Tobago is a Many work hard and
rich and blessed get little pay,
country, Employed but living
Workers are the below the poverty
backbone of the line they say,
economy, Not enough money to
Contributing in primary, support a small
secondary and tertiary family,
industries, Some workers are in
However, they real jeopardy.
experience many
difficulties.
Women under- Cudjoe and Sat in a big,
represented in certain big fight,
jobs, Racial discrimination
Sexual harassment at they tackle with all
the workplace makes their might,
her sob, In order to get a work
To her family she comes they say,
with a tear in her eye, You must be of a
The boss at work wants particular race for it
her in bed to lie. to come your way.
Teachers breathe in Many children I see
chalk dust in working to the bone,
classrooms, Toting wood, cement,
Some industries full of gravel, stone,
dust, smoke and toxic Instead of enjoying
fumes, school and childhood,
Employees at places They are forced into
work at heights, work and adulthood.
without harnesses
Alas, to the ground they
plummet.
 Answers to Class Activity 22.4, pg 196, Q
1; Workers’ Plight
Problems Workers Phrases
Experience
Gender discrimination Women under-represented in
certain jobs
Ethnic discrimination To get a job you must be of a
particular race
Child labour Forced into work and adulthood
Unsafe working Working at heights without harness
conditions
Low wages Living below the poverty line
Sexual harassment The boss … wants her in bed, to lie
Employee Protection
1. Trade Unions
2. Government
3. Laws
4. International Labour Organisation
TRADE UNION
 A Trade Union is an organisation of
persons employed in an industry or
following a particular trade who have
joined together in order to improve
their wages and working conditions
Main activities of trade unions:
 Collective Bargaining
 Political Activism
 Educational Provision (scholarships for
members and their children, Trade
Union Colleges e.g. Cipriani Labour
College, Butler Institute of Labour)
Strategies used by Trade
Unions
 NEGOTIATION
 INDUSTRIAL ACTION
 Strikes
 Working to rule
 DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER
PROTESTS
Strategies used by Employers
 NEGOTIATIONS
 LOCK-OUTS
TRADE UNIONS
For the payment of monthly union dues the TU
will provide several benefits:
 Bargaining for increased wages

 Ensuring healthy, safe working conditions

 Providing legal assistance during disputes

between worker and employer

 Financial assistance when disabled or

injured during work

 Financial assistance to next-of-kin if a

member dies
 GOVERNMENT
 Introduced the Industrial Court on April
29, 1965
 Responsible for settling labour disputes
not resolved among trade unions,
employers and the Ministry of Labour
 Established the Registration,
Recognition and Certification Board
to facilitate the operation of trade unions
Employee Protection
Laws
 Factories Ordinance (regulations
regarding health, sanitation and safety in
factories)
 Retrenchment and Severance
Benefits Act (provisions for the payment
of compensation when retrenched)
 Maternity Protection Act (13 weeks
maternity leave for expectant mothers)
LAWS
 Minimum Wage Act ($8 per hour, 40hr
work week, extra pay for extra hours and
public holidays)
 Equal Opportunity Act (illegal for
employers to discriminate based on sex,
race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, or
disability)
 Employers are legally bound to provide
compensation for employees who are
injured during the course of their duties
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
ORGANISATION
ILO (UN Agency since 1946): provides
technical assistance and advice w.r.t. labour
issues
 Right of workers to join a trade union
 Equality of opportunity for workers
regardless of sex, race, religion, colour,
status
 Working conditions
 Occupational health and safety
 Laws dealing with the rights of workers
Summary
 The labour force is made up of different
types of workers
 Trade Unions play a major part in the
labour environment
 There are important laws and
international conventions which protect
the rights of workers
Summary
 Human resource refers to people and their
various skills, talents and abilities which
they bring to the workplace
 Education and health are very important
factors in the development of human
resources
 The human resource of a country is
important
 The human resource has a critical role to
play in the development of a country