The Wyndham Nassau Resort closed its doors for a little over six weeks this week, which will affect more than 500 employees.
Minister of Labour Shane Gibson said workers should apply for unemployment benefits under the National Insurance Board's (NIB) Unemployment Benefit program as soon as possible.
"As a labor advocate, I am painfully aware that Bahamians like to work -- we like to contribute -- and claiming the unemployment benefit is perhaps one of the last alternatives you would consider," Gibson said in a statement.
"However, when you do claim, you want to be treated with respect and dignity, and also know that you are not asking for a hand-out, you are asking for a benefit that you are rightfully entitled to if you meet the qualifying conditions."
Those conditions include having contributed at least 52 weekly contributions; at least seven weekly contributions in the previous 13 weeks, and at least 13 weekly contributions in the previous 26 weeks.
"It is this program that we will now rely on to provide temporary income replacement for displaced hotel workers until the hotel re-opens on October 17, 2012," Gibson said.
Workers who accepted separation packages have three months to claim benefits, but Gibson advised them to apply as soon as possible.
Baha Mar officials were tight-lipped about how many employees signed up for the separation packages.
Workers were not forced to accept separation packages, Gibson said.
"The (hotel) union was very meticulous about this," he said.
"They wanted to make sure that persons actually volunteered and they were not forced to take these packages. So everyone who took these packages...did so voluntarily."
The resort closed a week ago.
Gibson noted this is the third time the resort has temporarily closed its doors.
"Generally this time of year is [the Wyndham's] slowest period and also in addition to this being the slow period and because of all the noise and dust and stuff related to the construction [of Baha Mar] going on in the site they found it difficult to have bookings during that time," Gibson said.
"When you're on vacation you don't want to be in the middle of a construction zone."
To make the claims process easier NIB partnered with the Department of Labour in providing the opportunity for the application process to take place at the Clifford Darling Complex yesterday and Monday, Gibson explained.
Gibson assured that the National Insurance Board and the Department of Labour will do everything possible to ensure that the claims process is smooth."

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