The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, commonly referred to as the Ministry of Labour, is a government ministry responsible for policy formulation, industrial relations, acting as a secretariat to the Social Partnership, and the other overall administration and coordination of all operations falling under the Minister of Labour’s portfolio. The current Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector is Dr. Karen Best. The Honourable Colin E. Jordan was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations on May 27, 2018 and subsequently reappointed as Minister responsible for labour in the new Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector. Organization and Management The Permanent Secretary Dr. Karen Best currently serves the people of Barbados as Permanent Secretary. Mrs. Yolande Howard previously served from August 2016 to January 2019 before reassignment and then Mr. Alyson Forte until December 2019. A Permanent Secretary is essentially the chief executive officer of a ministry, reporting to the Cabinet of Barbados. The Permanent Secretary or P.S is the most senior civil servant in government and is not politically appointed. He or she is responsible for managing the ministry tasked with implementing the Cabinet's policies as it relates to what falls under the Minister's portfolio. In the case of Barbados, the P.S as well as other civil servants are appointed through a government agency known as Personnel Administration Division. Thus, Permanent Secretaries cannot be hired or terminated by their Ministers or the Prime Minister of Barbados. The Permanent Secretary is the accounting officer of the Ministry. Assisting the Permanent Secretary is a Deputy Permanent Secretary and Secretary. Planning and Administration General Management The Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations is managed by a Permanent Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary and other senior staff that ensure the formulation and implementation of policies under the Minister's portfolio. The Ministry is the main facilitator of relations between the Government of Barbados and international organizations such as the International Labour Organization. The ministry is also responsible for facilitating relationship with workers unions in Barbados and working with foreign governments to aid in the a Manpower Research and Statistical Unit The Manpower Research and Statistical Unit is the intelligence gathering and research unit of the Ministry of Labour . The Unit is responsible for ensuring labour market information is provided to the people of Barbados in a timely manner. This Unit is managed