Sandals Barbados lays off hundreds of workers
Key Points(5)
- Sandals Resort in Dover Barbados has made over 200 workers redundant but the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) on Monday moved to relieve fears about job security in tourism, describing the layoffs as part of seasonal pattern.
- BHTA chairman Javon Griffith said the redundancies reflect the annual downturn in business.
- “That is pretty standard across the industry at this time of year,” Griffith explained.
- “Of course, for a property like that, it would seem like a lot, because they have two hotels side by side.” The news of the layoffs was first revealed on Friday by Toni Moore, general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), to reporters outside Parliament.
- While Moore did not name the property, she emphasized the need for job security to align with the provisions of the collective agreement between the BWU and the BHTA.
Sandals Resort in Dover Barbados has made over 200 workers redundant but the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) on Monday moved to relieve fears about job security in tourism, describing the layoffs as part of seasonal pattern.
BHTA chairman Javon Griffith said the redundancies reflect the annual downturn in business.
“That is pretty standard across the industry at this time of year,” Griffith explained. “Of course, for a property like that, it would seem like a lot, because they have two hotels side by side.”
The news of the layoffs was first revealed on Friday by Toni Moore, general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), to reporters outside Parliament. While Moore did not name the property, she emphasized the need for job security to align with the provisions of the collective agreement between the BWU and the BHTA.
The BWU head also accused the hotel of undermining the role of its union, claiming that the company directly consulted workers about the termination of their contracts without union involvement. But Griffith countered that the hotel’s general manager, Surinder Kahlon, had indicated the layoffs were unrelated to the BWU.
The BHTA chairman noted that many hotels typically scale back operations after Crop Over, often closing for renovations during September when there is a significant decrease in business. He added that workers are usually laid off if the closure period exceeds their holiday entitlement.
Griffith was unable to confirm whether Sandals would rehire the redundant workers once the industry picks up for the winter season.
“There is a slowdown of business and there are some internal rationalizations going on, but I cannot speak as to if or when persons would be rehired,” he said.
Moore expressed concern that the hotel might hold a job fair in the coming months to replace the redundant workers with new hires, a practice she argues contradicts long-established agreements in the sector.
Sandals Barbados Resort and Spa and Sandals Royals Barbados, did not respond to requests for comment.
