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The National Workers Union (NWU) has sought the intervention of the Minister of Labour in a brewing dispute between employees of Private Power Operators Limited in Rockfort, St. Andrew over the hiring of expatriates.
The union says it has been receiving complaints from workers that over the last few months, <span style="font-weight: bold">the new owners and management have been dismissing workers and replacing them with foreigners.</span>
In a letter sent to Pearnel Charles, Labour Minister last week, the NWU complained that this is a breach of the labour laws.
Granville Valentine, NWU Vice President, says the ministry must not be aware of the breaches, which contravene its announced policy that jobs not be out-sourced to non-Jamaicans if there are natives who can do the work.
Unrest
Mr. Valentine insists that the requisite skill set for the jobs at the PPO, exists in the Jamaican work force.
He is also concerned that<span style="font-weight: bold"> Jamaican workers are being supervised by foreigners without a good command of the English language.</span>
He adds that this communication problem goes hand in hand with their apparent ignorance of the labour laws of Jamaica.
The NWU Vice President warns that unrest at the plant will escalate and could disrupt the company's services.
Private Power Operators Limited supplies electricity to the national Jamaica Public Service Company power grid.
UCASE wants workers to get incentive payments
Meanwhile, an affiliated union, the Union of Clerical and Supervisory Employees (UCASE) has sought the intervention of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry over the non-payment of incentive payments for workers at the power company.
A letter also sent on June 3, requests the Permanent Secretary convene an urgent meeting to resolve this and to address the communication gap between expatriate workers and Jamaican employees.