The GAWU remains concerned that the year-end looms and the improvement of the National Minimum Wage still remains unresolved. In April, 2019, the National Tripartite Committee, which fields representatives from the Government, the Trade Union movement and the business community, approved unanimously an increase in the National Minimum Wages from $44,200 to $60,000 per month. Though having a clear mandate, the former Government failed to implement the new minimum wage.
The GAWU, through the FITUG, continued to champion this matter recognizing the hardships being borne by many workers and their families. This matter was represented to the new Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton soon after his assumption to office. At that time, the Minister promised to look into the matter. For the GAWU, it was, therefore, pleased to learn when the Minister indicated recently that he was prepared to approve at last the new minimum wage. However soon after the Minister’s announcement, we saw the elements of the business community expressing disagreement though acknowledging that the current minimum wage was inadequate. The business community has sought to shelter under COVID-19 to argue against the implementation of the new minimum wage.
We have to wonder which self-respecting businessperson takes joy in paying their employees just $255 per hour. Certainly, that is more than insufficient given the expenses of life yet the façade of COVID-19 is being raised to deny struggling workers a few dollars more. To know that Guyana is the fastest growing economy in the world and yet our workers are being paid just over US$1.00 per hour is utterly shameful. At the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Tripartite Committee a few days ago, the business community sought to have the new wage implemented from April, 2021. This was stoutly rejected by the workers representatives who contended that already too much time has elapsed. At this time, we in the GAWU call on Minister Hamilton to implement the decision of a properly convened National Tripartite Committee meeting and without further delay have the order issues for $60,000 per month as the new National Minimum Wages with effect from January 01, 2021.
