Antigua and Barbuda's labour minister, Jacqui Quinn-Leandro

Heading the delegation was labour minister, Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, who presented a paper on “Institutional framework for promoting decent work in the Caribbean: a national perspective.”

Accompanying the labour minister was Labour Commissioner, Hesketh Williams. Representing workers organisations was president of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union, Senator Chester Hughes and representing employers organisations was Employers Federation executive member, Sharon Knight. The conference was declared open by Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur.

The theme of the conference is “Responding to Globalisation: A Decent Work Agenda for the Caribbean in the context of Regional Integration.”

Emanating from the conference, the Caribbean ministers of labour and worker/employer representatives will commit to the Bridgetown Tripartite Declaration which resolves to advance decent work priorities in national development agendas. Each country is expected to define attainable decent work goals and shape its own national agenda.