An urgent pay increase and national recognition for air traffic controllers are needed to prevent the country from losing skilled aviation workers overseas, the island’s largest public sector union has warned.

Acting general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Wayne Walrond, said on Tuesday that air traffic controllers should be better compensated for their specialist work in a highly sensitive role that directly affects the safe landing and take-off of aircraft carrying thousands of passengers each day.

“More national recognition for the controllers and the grade of pay,” Walrond told Barbados TODAY in an interview. “When you even compare the Caribbean…there are parts of the Caribbean where air traffic controllers are paid between $8 000 and $10 000 a month or more. Barbados air traffic controllers are not recognised at that level.”