§ Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any schemes have now been devised to establish regular recruitment of waterfront labour in Jamaica and Trinidad.
Mr. Creech JonesA scheme has been agreed between the Shipping Association of Trinidad and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers' Trade Union in an endeavour to regulate the employment of stevedores, launchmen and lightermen. The scheme is to be tried out experimentally for three months, and will be intro-248W duced from 1st August next. The ultimate aim is to establish a permanent registration scheme. The introduction of a similar scheme for dockers in the employment of the Department of Wharves and Harbours is under consideration. In Jamaica, after the labour dispute in Kingston last year, the Government suggested to the Shipping Association and to the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union that discussions should take place to draw up as quickly as possible a progressive scheme for the future operation of the port, including an improvement in the system of registration and method of engagement of port workers. No agreement has yet been reached by the parties concerned.