No. of 2024 National Productivity Council Bill, 2024 Saint Christopher and Nevis.
SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
No. of 2024
Arrangement of Sections.
Section
1. Short Title and commencement.
2. Interpretation.
3. Establishment of the National Productivity Council.
4. Purpose and Objectives.
5. Functions of the Council.
6. Composition of the Council.
7. Appointment of secretary.
8. Qualifications.
9. Tenure.
10. Resignation of member.
11. Termination.
12. Oath of office.
13. Funding.
14. Remuneration of members of Council.
15. Staff
16. Secondment of public officers.
17. Reporting.
18. Regulations.
SAINT CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
No. of 2024
A BILL to provide for the establishment of the National Productivity Council and for related matters.
WHEREAS it is imperative for the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis to enhance and sustain economic growth, competitiveness, and overall well-being;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Saint Christopher and Nevis recognizes the pivotal role of productivity in achieving national development goals;
AND WHEREAS the establishment of a National Productivity Council is deemed essential to promote and cultivate a culture of productivity within the civil sector and the general workforce;
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the National Assembly of Saint Christopher and Nevis, and by the authority of the same as follows:
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) This Act may be cited as the National Productivity Council Act, 2024.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on a date to be appointed by Cabinet, by Order published in the Gazette.
2. Interpretation.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression
“Cabinet” means the Cabinet of Ministers;
“Council” means the National Productivity Council established under section 3.
3. Establishment of the National Productivity Council.
(1) There shall be established a body to be known as the National Productivity Council.
4. Purpose and objectives.
(1) The purpose, objectives or mandate of the Council is to:
(a) promote a culture of productivity, efficiency, and innovation in the public and private sectors;
(b) foster a collaborative environment for the exchange of ideas and experiences related to productivity improvement;
(c) enhance productivity levels within the civil sector and the general workforce.
(2) The Council shall carry out its objectives in a manner consistent with the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and sustainable development.
5. Functions of the Council.
The functions of the Council are to:
(a) provide a platform for collaboration and engagement among government, employers, employees, and other stakeholders in fostering productivity
improvement initiatives;
(b) identify and analyze factors affecting productivity and recommend strategies to address them;
(c) develop and implement training programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of the workforce;
(d) facilitate the adoption of best practices in organizational management, technology, and workplace design to optimize productivity;
(e) conduct research and gather data on productivity trends, challenges, and opportunities;
(f) advise the government on policies and measures to enhance national productivity; (g) establish benchmarks and indicators to measure and track productivity performance; and
(h) prepare a national productivity matrix.
6. Composition of the Council
(1) The Council shall consist of a Chairperson and four other members.
(2) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Governor General after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
(3) The six other members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor General after consultation with after respective consultation with the following persons—
(a) the Deputy Governor General;
(b) the Prime Minister;
(c) the Premier;
(d) the Minister with responsibility for Labour;
(e) the St Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union; and
(f) the St Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
7. Secretary.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry responsible for Labour shall be the secretary of the Council to attend the sittings of the Council, to record their proceedings, to keep their papers and generally to perform such duties, connected with functions of the Council, as the members may prescribe, subject to the directions, if any, of the Governor-General.
8. Qualifications.
(1) In making the appointments of the members of the Council consideration shall be given to the members’ experience in government, the private sector, employers’ organizations, the trade union movement, academia and the law.
(2) A person who is a member of the National Assembly shall not qualify for membership of the Council.
9. Tenure.
(1) A member of the Council may hold office for a period of three years, unless he or she vacates office.
(2) A member of the Council may be reappointed to serve on the Council.
10. Resignation of member.
(1) A member of the Council, other than the Chairperson, may resign his or her office in writing addressed to the Governor General through the Chairperson.
(2) The Chairperson may, at any time, in writing addressed to the Governor General, resign from his or her office.
11. Termination.
The Governor General may remove any member of the Council from office on one or more of the following grounds
(a) inability to perform the functions of his or her office whether arising from infirmity of mind or body;
(b) being absent from three consecutive meetings of the Council, without the written permission of the Chairperson;
(c) if he or she is declared bankrupt or compounds with his or her creditors; (d) misconduct;
(e) for any other conduct which is inconsistent with his or her functions.
12. Oath of office
A member of the Council shall, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, take and subscribe to the Oath of Office, set out in the Schedule to this Act, before the Governor General or a person appointed by the Governor General.
13. Funding
The Council shall be funded through
(a) appropriations made by the Parliament,
(b) grants,
(c) donations, and
(d) any other sources as approved by the Minister of Finance in consultation with Cabinet.
14. Remuneration of members of Council
(1) Members of the Council shall be paid such remuneration as the Minister responsible for Finance, with the approval of Cabinet, may determine.
(2) Moneys payable to members of the Council shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.
15. Secondment of public officers.
The Governor General may, subject to such conditions as he or she may impose, approve the secondment of any public officer to any office of the Council and any public officer so seconded shall, in relation to pension, gratuity or other allowance be treated as continuing in the public service.
16. Reporting
The Council shall submit an annual report to the Parliament detailing its activities, achievements, and recommendations for improving productivity in Saint Christopher and Nevis.
17. Regulations
Cabinet may make Regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act.
SCHEDULE
OATH (OR AFFIRMATION) OF OFFICE
I,……………………………………………………………, do swear (or solemnly affirm that I will honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis and the law, that I will conscientiously, impartially and to the best of my ability discharge my duties as………………………………………………and do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will
So help me God. (to be omitted in affirmation)
……………………………..
Lanein K. Blanchette
Speaker
Passed by the National Assembly this day of , 2024.
……..…………………………………. Trevlyn Stapleton
Clerk of the National Assembly
