GOVERNMENT is considering "substantial amendments" to some labour laws, including one that would allow large supermarkets to open
24 hours.

Senator Arni Walters, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with special responsibility for Employment, made
the comment yesterday
at the Barbados Employers' Confederation (BEC) 48th annual
general meeting
at Sherbourne Centre.

He said a revised Shops Act would widen the provision of services under the definition of shop
to include "betting and gaming, beauty, cosmetic, barber, floral and laundry and other related services" and permit some shops, mainly large supermarkets, "to open
on a 24-hour basis".

However, he cautioned that Government would tread very carefully on that issue before implementing any changes.

In addition, he said
the proposed amendments to the Holidays with
Pay Act, would "remove the ambiguity" inherited in the existing legislation.

"The fraction [of] three weeks per year will be used as the basis for the calculation of average pay for a period of less than one year and not the one week per 26 weeks as currently obtains.

"Total remuneration will also be properly defined so as to avoid
the many different interpretations applied
in practice," he revealed.

Walters noted that his office would also be reviewing other provisions like the Sexual Harassment Bill and the Trade Union (Amendment) Act.

The Ministry of Labour, he added, would move towards a full Employment Relations Act to deal with collective bargaining and rights disputes outside of the new employment rights regime.

Government will
also revisit some aspects of the Severance
Payments Act to ensure compatibility with
the new labour legislation as well as enacting
a new piece of legislation on occupational safety
and health with a section which relates to an employee's right to refuse dangerous work.

"This revision work
will be the subject of full consultation with the Social Partners,"
he said.

* tracymoore@nation
news.com