FITUG renews call for $60,000 national minimum wage

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and its affiliates – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) – has renewed its call for the national minimum wage to be increased to $60,000 monthly as has been agreed.

FITUG made the call on Friday in its Labour Day 2021 message.

The Federation registered its disappointment that Labour Day 2021 is being observed but the national minimum wage remains the same despite an agreement for an improvement.

After assuming office last year, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has committed to signing the order to raise the private sector minimum wage, which remains $44,200, since it was last increased in 2017. Although there was said to be an agreement on the issue between the government, private sector and labour stakeholders, the private sector has since voiced concerns about the move, particularly in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses.

FITUG said it remained dismayed by the disrespectful attitude of some to our nation’s employers, while pointing out that it has heard too many times of instances where they seek to disregard the workers’ rights and conditions. Such actions, it added, are simply abominable and cannot be tolerated.

Meanwhile, FITUG also noted the global effects of the pandemic and acknowledged the efforts of the government to vaccinate the adult population. “We note when compared to several nations, we have made tremendous progress, and this is reassuring development,” it said.

However, it also chided citizens, while noting the “irresponsibility demonstrated” by some of them, which may hinder efforts to attain herd immunity. “And, on this Labour Day we encourage all Guyanese to receive their vaccines as we hold that we all have a responsibility to ensure that we can emerge from the pandemic in the shortest possible time,” it added.

The Federation also commended the government for reversing what it described as anti-worker policies that heightened the cost-of-living over the last few years as well as for reinstituting several “propeople” policies. “Taken together they will go a long way to addressing the plight of our workers,” it added.