The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) yesterday called on Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton to bring the new proposed minimum wage of $60,000 into effect.
In a statement, FITUG, said that there may be attempts afoot to “stall” an improvement in the National Minimum Wage.
“We have seen recently some utterances from the business community following the announcement by Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton that he intended to soon append an order paving the way for an increase in the National Minimum Wage.”
The Federation referred to the last revision when it was set at $44,200 per month. It said it was “heartened” when the National Tripartite Committee last April unanimously approved an increase to $60,000 monthly. Disappointingly, however, the Federation noted that the former APNU+AFC Government never implemented the improvement and attempts to engage the then administration on this matter “got no further than platitudes.” This was clearly interpreted as a reluctance to improve the minimum wage and this suspicion was heightened after the Tripartite Committee ceased to function with no meeting having been convened now for more than a year and a half.
According to FITUG, the incumbent Minister of Labour was approached by them on this matter early in his tenure and he in turn assured that the issue would be addressed. The Federation stated that the Minister’s announcement that he was ready to implement the wage increase was most welcome but it could not help but notice that some in the business sector did not share the same sentiment even though it was admitted that the current wages were insufficient. The Union body therefore sees this as admitting that their workers are being insufficiently paid, adding, “We find the statements most disheartening and are very much disappointed.”
As the Federation sees it, the business community seems not to be operating in unison where the matter of a wage increase is concerned though it seems that some employers have recognised the difficulty workers face in having to make do with $44,200 per month. Further even though this acknowledgement is encouraging, FITUG asserts that it must be recognised that even the approved $60,000 is not sufficient, but rather, needed to close the already wide economic gap that is steadily growing.
It has also observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has been invoked to push back against the implementation of the increase along with the threats of layoffs should the new wage be ushered in.
“We find such apparent threats disturbing though it is not a new ploy. The Federation considers it as an attempt to dissuade the Minister from implementing an approved decision. We have to wonder aloud after COVID-19 what will be the next rationale used to deny the workers a due hike in their pay”, the union body said.
