Jamaica’s hotel sector is grappling with financial crises as worker protests over exploitative conditions intensify and external pressures, including travel advisories and declining tourist arrivals, mount. Protests at Secrets and Breathless resorts in Montego Bay follow similar actions at Royalton Negril, highlighting issues like unpaid overtime and job insecurity. Compounded by storm damage, traffic congestion, and economic slowdown, some hotels are reportedly borrowing to meet payroll obligations. 

Tourism turmoil

Industry on edge amid fresh hotel protests over poor working conditions, low wages

Jamaica Gleaner/13 Nov 2024

THE TOURISM sector has been placed on pins and needles, concerned that every new protest action at a local hotel will degrade the confidence the travel industry has in Jamaica.

The concerns were highlighted yesterday when staff at Secrets and Breathless resorts in Montego Bay, St James, staged a protest, demanding relief from what they described as exploitative work conditions, and had not returned to work up to 4:00 p.m. as they awaited a second meeting with management and Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

This latest action marked the second protest within Jamaica’s hotel sector in three weeks, following a similar strike by Royalton Negril employees on National Heroes Day over low wages and meal rationing.

Yesterday, the employees of Secrets and Breathless cited long hours without overtime pay, delayed wages, and what they called “untenable” treatment by management, saying, “We feel like slaves, working from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. without any remunerations”.

LONG HOURS OF STANDING

As a result of having to stand for long hours on the job, one member of the food and beverage team said she ruptured a vein in her foot and was forced to do surgery at a cost of $640,000.

“We are shortstaffed and most of whom they give us have no experience, so I can’t just leave them alone,” said the employee, who has been with the resort chain for 14 years. According to her, she does not know the new general manager, because he speaks to no one.

Other staffers with whom The Gleaner spoke said that on the sale of the two Secrets and one Breathless resorts, which are managed jointly in Montego Freeport, no meeting was held with the employees to explain what was happening. The hotel was previously owned by Amresorts and is now operated by Hyatt.

“And it look like it sell again, because the sign is no longer out on the road,” one employee said.

“Whenever the hotel is sold there is no general meeting, people just come and see Hyatt tek over. Is pure bully business. No communication and who they bring have no manners.”

According to the employees, the best person to have ever walked through the hotel’s doors was Swiss national Emilio Huhn, a former managing director/general manager, who, they said, “didn’t discriminate and wanted no special treatment”.

The staffers said, though they want fewer expatriates in jobs that Jamaicans are qualified for, they would take Huhn any day, due to his people skills, fairness and kindness towards them.

The tensions at the hotels, coupled with

protest actions at other resorts, along with other uncertainties, could potentially derail efforts to have gainful returns this upcoming winter season, which starts on December 15.

Many of the local hotels are suffering a financial crisis caused by multiple factors, including damning travel advisories from Canada and the United States; a storm surge in February, the best month for the industry, a water crisis in Negril and the US Elections with Americans curtailing overseas travel.

Coupled with an active hurricane season are poor roads and unbearable traffic congestion between the tourism capital Montego Bay and the other major resort areas of Negril, Westmoreland, and Ocho Rios in St Ann.

The Gleaner has learnt that some hotels are borrowing money to pay their bills, including payrolls.

In addition, the fall-off in tourist arrivals has now resulted in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) projecting a 0.2 per cent economic decline for the financial year.

At the Secrets and Breathless facilities, resort management has requested 24 hours to address the staff’s grievances.

Opposition Spokesman on Tourism Janice Allen, who spoke with the workers, emphasised the importance of improving their conditions.

“We must ensure that they are fairly treated and feel valued as partners in the tourism industry. The concerns raised here are significant and need urgent attention.”

Among the issues is the calculation of staff commissions for services such as those provided in the spa and other areas. She said the workers were also troubled by the prevalence of contract work, with some employees having served for 13 or even 16 years under yearly contracts.

“This lack of job security restricts their ability to plan financially and pursue outside opportunities. These are critical matters, and it’s essential that they be addressed promptly, as workers are the backbone of our tourism sector. Tourism should serve the people and contribute to our nation’s economy.”

The Ministry of Labour is expected to meet with the staff again today, after an initial meeting yesterday.

“While the hotels navigate through these difficulties, they need to make every effort to protect the legal rights of their workers,” one hotelier stated.

He added that workers need to be engaged and sensitised to the difficulties faced by the industry and become partners with management to find creative ways to reduce operating costs and improve guest satisfaction.

He warned that, if the industry leaders fail to engage and protect workers, they will find opportunities overseas, making it harder for the industry to find workers.

 

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