Grenada charts path to decent work: Tripartite partners unite in landmark workshop

St. George’s, Grenada (ILO News) - Grenada took a decisive step toward shaping the future of work as government representatives, employers’ organizations, workers’ unions, and civil society came together for a dynamic three-day national workshop held on 2-4 December 2025 to validate the Decent Work Country Diagnostic (DWCD) which lays the foundation for Grenada’s first Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP). Hosted by the Department of Labour in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and supported by the Labour Advisory Board (LAB), the workshop marked a powerful demonstration of social dialogue in action.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Claudette Joseph, Minister of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs, underscored the government’s commitment to an evidence-based approach, explaining that, “The Decent Work Country Diagnostic provides a comprehensive analysis of our labour market, highlighting key trends, decent work deficits, and priority challenges in areas such as employment creation, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue.”. She painted a clear vision for stakeholders of the impact of a DWCP for Grenada saying, “Through this DWCP, we envision a transformation that will build a resilient and inclusive labour market, capable of withstanding external shocks and climate risks…and create a society where every worker enjoys dignity, security, and opportunity, and where decent work is a lived reality for all Grenadians.”

The workshop opened with a comprehensive introduction to decent work and results-based management concepts and process, setting the stage for three days of intensive collaboration. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises, reviewing challenges across employment, enterprise development, workers’ rights, social protection, skills development, and social dialogue. Groups considered issues by relevance and comprehensiveness, assessed their criticality and impact using structured grids, and identified underlying contributing factors. This deeply participatory approach ensured that the diagnostic reflected not only statistical evidence but also the lived realities of the nation’s workforce.

Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Caribbean Office, highlighted the significance of the validation process: “Every priority identified in this workshop will have emerged from rigorous dialogue where government, employers, and workers had equal voice at the table. This is how we ensure that decent work isn't just an aspiration, but a concrete roadmap with measurable outcomes that will improve working conditions, create quality jobs, and strengthen social protection for all Grenadians."

With the diagnostic validated, the workshop transitioned into a forward-looking phase. Participants began designing the contours of Grenada’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) by considering and agreeing on the DWCP’s core areas of focus and the enabling conditions that would need to exist for the highest levels of impact to be realized.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders with a common purpose, Grenada has laid a strong foundation for its DWCP through this Decent Work Country Diagnostic validation workshop, one rooted in evidence, shaped by consensus, and designed for measurable impact.