Seven Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) member hotels, totaling 1,032 rooms, will close temporarily in September and October for refurbishments, the SLHTA announced Thursday. The closures will impact tourism-related businesses, including restaurants, transportation, and tours, with layoffs expected. The SLHTA noted that such are “not unusual” during the slow season.
In Barbados, over 200 workers at Sandals Resort were recently made redundant. Jason Griffith of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) said “That is pretty standard across the industry at this time of year,” pointing to the seasonal nature of the layoffs.
The layoffs in Barbados were first reported by Toni Moore, general secretary of the Barbados Workers Union (BWU). The announcement came just before Labor Minister Colin Jordan outlined new minimum wage and work conditions for tourism sector employees in the Lower Chamber.
In St Lucia, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre announced the island’s first minimum wage, set to take effect on October 1, cautioning employers to use it as a reason to lay off workers.
SLHTA President Paul Collymore praised the strong performance of St Lucia’s tourism sector in 2024, crediting collaboration between the private sector and government. SLHTA CEO Noorani Azeez added, “Despite the show season, there is still much excitement in the industry.”
However, the SLHTA did not address how workers affected by the slow season layoffs will be supported.
Source: St Lucia Times
Photo Credit: Huffington Post
