Workers and employers on Ascension Island could be given new protection under a planned law, similar to St Helena’s Employment Rights Ordinance.
A public consultation is to be held on Ascension on the wording of the draft Workers Ordinance, reports The Islander website.
It proposes new rights on written contracts and a disciplinary process, with protection from unfair dismissal. It reinforces the right of employers to decide whether to renew the fixed-term contracts that apply to jobs on the island.
Given the unusual status of Ascension – with only workers and their families allowed to live on the island – the law also covers provision of accommodation and healthcare.
The Islander says the draft ordinance updates an 85-year-old law. “This is a very important law in Ascension terms,” it says. A public meeting will be held to explain the details.