(By TAMARA McKENZIE

Guardian Staff Reporter)

Effective Feb. 1, the Bahamas government will enforce a 40-hour workweek for all workers. The category of employees that would be mostly affected by the change, are those paid on an hourly basis. These workers will only be paid for each hour worked.

At a press conference on Tuesday Minister of Labour and Immigration, Vincent Peet said that after consultation with various labour and employers union representatives, the government decided that it would be in the best interest of the country to move forward with the 40-hour workweek, consistent with the provisions of The Employment Act 2001.

"The Employment Act 2001 made provisions for the reduction of the workweek in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas from 48 hours to 44 hours effective February 1, 2002. Additionally, the Act provides for a further reduction of the workweek from 44 hours to 40 hours effective February 1, 2003.

"The government of The Bahamas stands firmly behind this Act and will honour its commitment to the citizens of The Bahamas," Mr Peet said.

As a result of a reduction in the workweek, Minister Peet said the government does not anticipate a reduction in salary for employees who are being paid daily, weekly, bi-monthly or monthly.

He appealed to all employers to be just and fair in their dealings with employees, and any employer who changed a daily- weekly- bi-monthly- or monthly-paid employee to an hourly paid-position, would be guily of an offence against the Act.

"The office of the Attorney General, in consultation with my Ministry, has advised that legally, employers cannot unilaterally convert the method of payment for those persons who are not hourly-paid. To do so, would constitute a violation of their contract of employment," he stated, adding that he is positive that employers would realize that humane treatment of employees is the foundation on which effective businesses are established.

Although the Employment Act is silent on the question of a lunch period, Mr Peet said, custom and practice should continue to be observed, whereby a paid lunch period ranging from 30 minutes to one hour is included in the daily work schedule.

Minister Peet said that much concern was expressed by employers about the timing of the law coming into effect. He said that the main concern of most employers was whether the economy could absorb such a move at the present time, in addition to the impact on businesses.

His Ministry was very "deliberate" and "careful" about what was said, he noted, and met with both employers and workers representatives during discussions on the matter, namely: The Bahamas Employers Confederation (BeCon); the National Congress of Trade Unions (NCTU); the Trade Union Congress (TUC); the Airport Airline & Allied Workers Union (AAAWU), the Bahamas Commercial Stores Supermarkets & Warehouse Workers Union (BCSSWU), and the Nassau Tourism Promotion Board.

The law has already been passed, Minister Peet said, and the government was not "basically" persuaded by those arguments from employers that the timing would have damaged the economy.

"We feel that a formula has been arrived at and if goodwill exists between employers and the unions, this would be something that could work," he stated.

Meanwhile, Minister Peet said, the government is appealing to employees to continue to improve their level of performance on the job and become more productive within the 40-hour workweek.

"I wish to encourage all employees and employers to promote industrial goodwill and harmony in the workplace," he said. "The way forward is for all sectors of our society to join hands and hearts in a spirit of cooperation to ensure the continued growth and development of our beloved Bahamaland."