Minister of Labour and the Public Service, the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle assured the public of the government’s commitment to protect Bahamian workers while appearing on The Rundown talk show on Tuesday evening.

Glover-Rolle said, “we’re taking a very proactive approach to labour.  Our administration speaks to one of Bahamianization, ensuring that we’re protecting our workers and ensuring that where there are complaints that we immediately galvanize interaction.”

Of the Bahamianization policy of the government the Minister said, “the government has gone to the extent of asking persons who are here on work permits, foreigners, expatriates to wrap up their affairs and we give a timeline in which they are allowed to leave.”

The Minister’s comments came after the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Freeport Container Port, Alan Dixon.  Dixon was accused of nepotism and other bad business practices in a letter authored by employees that was recently made public.

The Minister said the Davis administration has opened a notice of vacancy policy enforcement unit.  She said, “enforcement is important, the Notice Of Vacancy Unit has always existed, we’ve always said that there should be an understudy but who’s monitoring. This ensures that while there are heads of agreement that speak to the fact that yes you may bring in expatriate workers we have to also ensure that where there are Bahamians who are qualified, where there are Bahamians who are in country who are able, equipped and qualified to take on those positions that they are given the opportunities.”