As we will soon close the curtains on 2019, we are dismayed to know that for workers employed in the private sector their minimum pay remains stuck at $44,200 per month whereas their colleagues in the State sector per month would be receiving $70,000. This stark disparity requires urgent attention. Our Union is aware that the National Tripartite Committee (NTC), which comprises representatives of the labour movement, the private sector and the Government, at its meeting in April, this year agreed to up the national minimum wage to $60,000 per month. The increase which, we understand, was supported by all the constituents, at this time, has not been implemented.
Since the April meeting, no attempts, apparently, have been made to reconvene a NTC meeting which is usually chaired by Social Protection Minister, Amna Ally. We are at a loss as to why the NTC is not meeting as such meetings are critical to ensure that the decision to increase the national minimum wage is implemented. Undoubtedly our nation’s workers are more than deserving and the improvement would bring about much deserved relief to our working-class.
