Pryce renews call for domestic workers training institute

Syranno Baines, Gleaner Writer

President of the Jamaica Household Workers’ Union Shirley Pryce has renewed her call for the government to establish a training institute for domestic workers, noting that it will serve as an avenue to enhance their quality of life.

Pryce, who is also the head of the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network, noted, too, that the “much-needed” institution would be the first of its kind in the region.

She was speaking at the GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Worker of the Year Award Ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St Andrew yesterday.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Andrew Holness agreed that a training institute was needed and committed to helping the initiative coming to fruition, Pryce disclosed that the union has received a syllabus from HEART Trust/NTA and that it has already identified a space for the training school.

She said the union is ready to move forward.

“Everyone who calls the office needs a trained domestic worker, but where are we going to do the training?” she asked.

“HEART is not a fit for domestic workers because they cannot go to school in the days, it has to be weekends and evenings, so that’s the plan,” said Pryce.

Meanwhile, Michael Brown and Rosemarie Forrester copped the Male and Female Household Worker of the Year Award at the ceremony.

Both received a cash reward of $330,000, $25,000 in Hi-Lo gift vouchers and $100,000 towards educational advancement.

Started in 2014, the GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Worker of the Year Award recognises and reward Jamaica’s household workers.

It is presented in the name of the late Dr Heather Little-White in recognition of her years of service at GraceKennedy, her training of household workers, and her dedication to the improvement of their skills, and their lives.

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