Minimum Wage Commission places final touches to document
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Tuesday 12 October 2010 – The Minimum Wage Commission was established by an act of Parliament in an effort to ensure that the most disadvantage Saint Lucian workers would not be financially compromised by unscrupulous business owners. Chairman of the commission Cyrus Reynolds says, in an effort to carry out its mandate, the commission held consultations with various stake holders.
“Setting a minimum wage would virtually put persons on an equal playing field so to speak, because at least persons who have been in a situation where they make a certain income would receive something more, than what the use to make. It would more or less cut out that indigent income for sure. It would cut out that poverty line income and put you at a level which should provide for you a better standard of living.”
Among the tasks given to the Commission was to define the category of persons who are legally referred to as indigent or poor.
“When we speak of those who are at the indigent level or sector we refer to persons who make between zero and five hundred dollars so to speak. Our poverty line is about five hundred and twenty dollars a month does not make you destitute, but you can survive but when you look at the other factors that might be brought to bear; children in the family, sickness that might occur, the need to go to school, buying books, these are some of the areas that might reduce you to that indigent level.”
Now that the commission has completed its task, it will deliver its recommendations to the Minister of Labour for discussion and final approval by Parliament. |
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