APUA shop steward Zabina Nicholas used the platform at the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union rally at the V.C. Bird bust to call for stronger protections for workers, placing mental health at the center of her address.

Nicholas urged continued advocacy for workers’ rights, pointing to the need for reforms to employment contracts to better reflect workplace stress and staffing challenges.

“Change the contract… because we care about the mental health,” she said, noting that stress levels remain high and workers deserve policies that recognise their well-being.

She outlined a goal of establishing permanent mental health frameworks across workplaces by 2027, including leadership commitment, dedicated resources and integration into human resource practices.

The proposals included training for managers, flexible work arrangements, privacy protections, medical leave for mental health support and structured return-to-work systems.

Citing international data, Nicholas said work-related mental health conditions remain a global concern, referencing findings that link long hours and workplace pressures to serious outcomes.

“We will not allow our people to succumb to this cycle,” she told supporters.

Nicholas said the aim is for mental health to become a core part of workplace safety and productivity, rather than an afterthought, as part of a broader push to improve conditions for workers.

“A strong mind makes a strong worker, but many strong minds make a great nation,” she said.