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GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA
MINISTRY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, LABOUR AND GENDER AFFAIRS
Department of Labour
VACANCY NOTICE
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for appointment to the post of Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ministry of the Public Service, Labour and Gender Affairs (Department of Labour).
RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS
- To formulate, administer and enforce labour legislation and policies; adjudicate and conciliate on labour matters and industrial disputes; conduct and direct investigations; approve and monitor the implementation of interventions and ensure the availability of data and information on labour markets and trends, to maintain a stable industrial relations climate in compliance with legislative requirements.
- Responds to the Deputy Labour Commissioner and liaises with public and private sector employees, employers, representative agencies, the general public, Department of Statistics, National Insurance Corporation and other government, and non-governmental and international agencies on matters relating to work in progress.
DUTIES AND TASKS
- Leads and manages assigned staff through target setting, continuous dialogue, mentoring, coaching, assessment of staff performance, identifying training needs and gaps, and managing leave, to ensure effective performance management and promote employee wellbeing.
- Assists in the preparation of the work programme for the Department in line with the Ministry’s strategic objectives, through strategic planning exercises, consultation with stakeholders and reviewing key evidence-based information, to enable the determination of targets, milestones and deadlines.
- Assists in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes by conducting research, collaborating with stakeholders and preparing documentation, to enable effectiveness of operations.
- Directs and conducts investigations of labour matters by reviewing complaint intake reports, directing and conducting workplace visits, reviewing investigation reports, approving recommendations for intervention and monitoring implementation, to ensure compliance with legislation.
- Advises on labour and/or trade disputes by hearing matters and making recommendations, to effect resolutions which are in accordance with legislation and best practice.
- Implements and monitors strategies for settling labour issues and/or industrial disputes by utilising applicable methodologies, hearing matters and making recommendations based on findings, in keeping with legislative requirements, to maintain a harmonious industrial relations climate.
- Leads the monitoring and assessment of the implementation of workplace practices as prescribed in binding agreements by conducting site visits and interviews, reviewing documentation and standard operating procedures, and comparing against requirements, to promote accountability and ensure that contractual obligations are met.
- Monitors employment practices for foreign nationals by conducting investigations and utilising work permit controls/systems, for the identification of infractions and to ensure adherence with contractual and legislative requirements.
- Conducts research and analysis on global labour trends, by reviewing International Labour Organisation guidelines, regional initiatives and adjudicated labour cases, to inform decision-making and policy formulation.
- Employs a tripartite approach to collective bargaining by providing advice to guide policy implementation and participating in dialogue amongst social partners as well as monitoring and evaluating their labour practices to foster a harmonious industrial relations climate.
- Facilitates the certification and decertification of representative agencies by overseeing the preparatory measures and the balloting and results process to ensure the integrity of the elections.
- Assists with the management of the Labour Market Information System by reviewing data collected regarding labour market actors, their environment and labour market institutions, policies and regulations, to ensure the retention and accessibility of data that serve the information needs of stakeholders and enable reporting obligations.
- Monitors local and regional labour market trends by undertaking environmental scanning, reviewing and analysing data collected on the labour market and reporting on findings, to determine sector vulnerability and aid decision making for policy formulation.
- Ensures continuous public education, awareness and familiarity with the work of the Department and the contributions of donor agencies by designing, coordinating and implementing an annual calendar of activities for a national outreach programme to foster public appreciation and create opportunities/avenues for broader stakeholder engagements.
- Collaborates with stakeholders in the design, implementation and delivery of training exercises, workshops and educational activities targeted at communities, schools and institutions to promote awareness in industrial and labour relations.
- Oversees the preparation of standard reports, forms and material by reviewing documents and providing feedback, to ensure conformity to established standards and to maintain consistency.
- Supports the review of relevant legislation, policies and procedures through research and consultation with stakeholders and making recommendations that are constitutionally sound to enable legal reform and decision making.
- Assists with the development, implementation and monitoring of the budget of the Division, in collaboration with the Budget and Finance Unit, attending budget planning meetings to enable access to funds for programme implementation, to ensure the effective use of resources and to facilitate early detection and management of budget variations.
- Empowers assigned staff to resolve inquiries and/or complaints from internal and external customers through established monitoring mechanisms, intervening in exceptional circumstances and maintaining an issues log, to enable excellent service delivery and maximise customer satisfaction.
- Supervises the development, implementation and maintenance of proficient records management systems in accordance with standard operating procedures, to ensure the retention and accessibility of data that serve the information needs of stakeholders, enable reporting obligations, and promote accountability and transparency.
- Establishes linkages with relevant stakeholders through collaboration and networking at the local, regional and international levels, to enable information sharing, knowledge transfer and the identification of requisite resources to fulfil the mandate of the department.
- Prepares status reports on work plans, in accordance with standard operating procedures, to allow for a review of set targets and objectives, facilitate decision-making and promote accountability.
- Performs any other job-related duties as may be assigned.
CONDITIONS
- Congenial accommodation is provided within a general administrative office with field work conducted.
- Institutional support is provided through the Constitution of Saint Lucia, civil service rules and regulations, collective agreements, standard operating procedures, Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, Public Finance Management Act, 2020, International Labour Organization standards, Labour Act, Cap 16.04 and other relevant policy documents.
- Opportunities exist for personal development through established orientation and training programmes, as outlined in the Training and Development Policy for the Saint Lucia Public Service.
- May be required to work beyond the normal working hours.
- Required to remain current on practices and developments in strategic leadership and management and labour and industrial relations fields.
- Required to demonstrate political acuity.
- Required to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism in the conduct of duties.
- Required to be punctual and present for work, meetings and other official appointments and activities.
- Functions in a scheduled travelling post with travel allowance in accordance with that stipulated in the terms and conditions of employment.
- Required to own and maintain a motor vehicle for the proper performance of duties and to possess a valid driver’s licence.
- May be required to travel regionally and internationally in the conduct of duties.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with that stipulated in the terms and conditions of employment.
- Required to conduct duties in varying locations and weather conditions with possible exposure to volatile situations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Advanced knowledge of the structure of the public service and ability to interpret and apply its administrative policies and procedures.
- Advanced knowledge of, and the ability to interpret and apply the provisions of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, civil service rules and regulations, collective agreements, International Labour Organization standards, Labour Act, Cap 16.04, International Labour Organization conventions, standard operating procedures, Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, Public Finance Management Act, 2020 and other relevant policy documents.
- Advanced knowledge of, and ability to interpret and apply principles and practices of industrial and labour relations.
- Advanced analytical and conceptualisation skills.
- Advanced leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire and motivate staff.
- Advanced interpersonal skills and demonstrates emotional intelligence.
- Advanced negotiation and mediation skills.
- Advanced oral and written communication, listening and presentation skills.
- Advanced organisational and project management skills.
- Intermediate computer literacy skills; with the ability to manipulate software applications such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets, presentation programmes and labour information software.
- Ability to effectively develop and maintain working relationships with team members and other stakeholders.
- Ability to manage time, meet deadlines and remain calm under pressure.
- Ability to adapt to organisational change.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
- Demonstrated knowledge of the structure of the public service and ability to interpret and apply its administrative policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, and the ability to interpret and apply the provisions of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, civil service rules and regulations, collective agreements, standard operating procedures, Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, Public Finance Management Act, 2020, International Labour Organisation standards, Labour Act, Cap 16.04, International Labour Organization conventions and other relevant policy documents.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, and ability to interpret and apply principles and practices of industrial and labour relations.
- Demonstrated analytical and conceptualisation skills.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
- Demonstrated negotiation and mediation skills.
- Demonstrated effectiveness of oral and written communication, listening and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated organisational and project management skills.
- Demonstrated computer literacy skills.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively develop and maintain working relationships with team members and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage time, meet deadlines and remain calm under pressure.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism in the conduct of duties.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative and judgment in the execution of duties.
- Demonstrated ability to complete assignments and tasks as defined by performance targets.
- Demonstrated ability to remain current on practices and developments in strategic leadership and management and labour and industrial relations fields.
- Demonstrated political acuity.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare and submit reports that meet established standards.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt to organisational change.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Master’s Degree in Industrial/Labour Relations, Labour and Employment Relations, Labour Relations and Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Public Administration, or related field of study plus two (2) years’ experience in a post at Grade 12 or above; or two (2) years’ relevant professional experience; OR
- Master’s Degree in Industrial/Labour Relations, Labour and Employment Relations, Labour Relations and Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Public Administration plus four (4) years’ experience in a post at Grade 10; or four (4) years’ relevant professional experience; OR
- Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial/Labour Relations, Labour and Employment Relations, Labour Relations and Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Public Administration plus two (2) years’ experience at Grade 13 or above; or two (2) years’ relevant professional experience.
SALARY
Salary is at the rate of EC $69,790.08 per annum (Grade 15 Step 1).
HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be made on the prescribed Government of Saint Lucia Employment Application Form and should be accompanied by certified copies of documents pertaining to qualifications, two (2) recent references and one (1) passport sized photograph along with other specified requirements.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Secretary
Public Service Commission
Sir Stanislaus James Building
The Waterfront
Castries, St. Lucia
Applications should reach the address no later than November 29, 2024.
Only suitable candidates will be acknowledged.
Please be advised that only the candidates with the best qualifications and experience will be shortlisted for interviews. Therefore, candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and experience may not be considered for an interview.
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