DEF Executive Director dismisses WAWU Secretary Treasurer response on the redundancy payments issue

Executive Director of the Dominica Employers Federation (DEF) Achille Chris Joseph has commented on the purported response of Secretary Treasurer of the Women’s allied Workers Union (WAWU) Kertiste Augustus, whom he says, had accused some prominent employers in Dominica of exploiting the law as it relates to redundancy, while speaking at a May Day rally. He added that Augustus had complained that “The provisions of the law had been set aside in one case, for whereas the law provides for six weeks layoff, that employer issued six months notice of lay-off to his staff”.
 
However, Joseph has issued an open challenge to Augustus to make that law available to employers in Dominica, claiming that he, Joseph, does not know of this law. On his part, Augustus explained that employers have to pay the redundancy claim; or alternatively, within a 4 weeks period, offer that employee employment to last for 13 consecutive weeks.
 
Augustus added, “If he does that and the employees still insist in being paid redundancy, the employer may not comply with the redundancy payment. I would expect a person like Chris Joseph to be very much aware of the provision of the Act.” Augustus stressed he clearly stated, that some employers are using Hurricane Maria as their shelter to carry out actions, which are “not consistent” with the law.
 
Joseph told Q95 news on Wednesday, this response from Augustus does not answer his question, according to him, he asked Augustus to show him the law which says that an employer cannot lay off an employee beyond the duration of 6 weeks.

​Dominica Employers Federation Executive Director Achille Chris Joseph