February 6, 2021
It was the revered war-time leader and British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, who famously said, we should never waste a good crisis. For it is at the most challenging of times, that we often see the best in human ingenuity and adaptiveness.
There is no doubt that in moments of difficulty, we are forced to question the effectiveness and value of old norms. In attempts to bring about change, we accept the reality that things are likely to go off track, and that new, often untried prescriptions, will be offered.
For decades, there have been calls in Barbados for a relook of the minimum wage regime, as too many of our citizens languish at the bottom of the economic ladder, barely eking out a living from basic wages, that leave little to no room for such workers to improve their lives.
The Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) has advised its membership that workers who are unable to fulfil their duties because they may be self-quarantined and awaiting secondary COVID-19 test results are eligible for sick leave and pay entitlements under the law. Executive director Sheena Mayers-Granville told the DAILY NATION yesterday that the BEC made this clear in a circular disseminated last week. The advice was given after Prime Minister Mia Amor …
Article by Social Share
Following is a statement from Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) on the issue of implementing a national minimum wage.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced during a press conference last Thursday that Government plans to move in this direction.
Mottley said that by April next year, Barbados could, for the first time, have a national minimum wage along with fixed amounts for different sectors.
“On March 1, 2012, the minimum wage was raised to $6.25 per hour for shop assistants and household domestics in Barbados. Legislation at the time did not allow for a national minimum wage, however many sectors utilise the rate as a benchmark.