Despite the oil proceeds and huge 2023 budget, the working poor and vulnerable of the country continue to be battered by the high cost of living which the government has not addressed, according to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).
The umbrella union body in a statement yesterday said that like other progressive organisations it is more concerned with the Human Development Index (HDI) than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as a measurement of growth.
It noted that in the 2023 budget, the government boasts of GDP growth in 2022 of over 60% and more than a 41% increase in spending in 2023 “but these have seen no comparative improvement in the lives of the working poor and vulnerable, nor any indication on government’s part how this could be made possible”.
The GTUC adverted to what it said was the government’s flagrant disregard for the wage and salary earners in the middle and lower-income brackets, even though they comprise most of the working class.
“We must ask ourselves why in a land of plenty government continues to ignore the rights of some workers to collective bargaining (Article 147), denying the constitutional right of some trade unions to participate in the nation’s economic developmental thrust and management of the economy (Articles 38 and 149C), the exclusion of the major political opposition and other stakeholders even though the constitution outlined the principal objective of the political system should be that of an `inclusionary democracy’ (Article 13)”, the GTUC stated.
The GTUC stated that whereas the government last year withheld the subvention to the Critch-low Labour College, the education arm of the union movement, it dispensed the workers’ money to foreign universities and their staff to educate Guyana’s children on programmes that could be run here and ensure employment and economic opportunities for people here.
Noting the reduction of taxes for the business community, the GTUC reiterated its call for the removal of Pay As You Earn taxes for workers.
“In this oil and gas economy, where the government is garnering other revenue streams it is time to lift this nation’s economic burden from the workers’ backs”, the GTUC asserted.
It also argued that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) needs urgent attention.
“Government must move with alacrity in retooling this organisation so it can serve those who have duly contributed and met the qualifying requirements…
“NIS’ debt must not only be absolved by the Government, but the Scheme must get the deserving injection of resources (financial and otherwise) to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For most workers this is their only investment. The time is also opportune to examine Unemployment Benefit to alleviate the economic dislocation for the laid off”, the union movement said.
Also argued by the GTUC was that there is growing despair among the young who are either leaving high school or university, qualified but finding it difficult to match employment with their education, as others need support for a second chance.
“Young people must be assured they belong, through involvement, proper training/education to compete, employment/economic opportunities, and investment in their retirement.
“Regrettably, if we continue the trajectory of increased prices and decreased value in income the future looks bleak and the indigenous labour force will respond through migration, allowing for the invasion of a new labour force with no kinship to Guyana and whose desperation may allow them to accept substandard wages and standard of living”, the GTUC said.
It contended that buildings and infrastructure are not indicators of development; people and their quality of life, including their safety and protection of their rights are, adding “Given the data the majority of Guyanese are not better off”.
