Unions demand to know size of bonus

Several unions have made it clear that they want to know the size of the bonus that the government plans on giving the state employees at the end of November. Michael Miskin, senior member of the Collective of Member Unions at the Central State Employees’ Organization (CLO), told Times of Suriname that he had asked the government on several occasions to help out the working class that was suffering because of the current economic situation. He claimed that he had asked the government to give the state employees financial aid in December. “I want to know the size of the bonus. I had often asked government officials and legislators if they are politicians or technocrats. Politicians

always make sure that something is done at the end of the year while technocrats do not do that,” said the union official.

Robby Berenstein, chairman of the C-47 labor union federation, is puzzled by the fact that the government wants to give all of the state employees a bonus in November and December although it had often claimed that there simply is no money. Berenstein also wants to know how much extra money the government plans on giving the state employees. He pointed out that the government did not consult with its social partners. “There is no doubt that the people need the extra money. But the government should present something structural so that the people have more to count on. I wonder what will happen after November and December,” said Berenstein. Ronald Hooghart from the CLO made it clear that he does not want to comment on the matter because he is still waiting for the official invitation from the government so that the salary raise can be discussed.

According to a press release from the Office of the President, President Chandrikapersad Santokhi explained that everybody would receive a bonus. “Everybody will get the bonus. This means all the employees not just the state employees but also those from the private sector.” The government also plans on giving the bonus to the shaved ice vendors, the market vendors, the taxi drivers etcetera. The head of state pointed out that it came across an empty treasury and a debt of 4 billion when it came into office. In just two months the new government made sure that it could cover the salaries, pensions, child allowances and welfare but it also worked towards raising them as of November 1. The president explained that if the government has a little money left after its decision not to pay the interest to Oppenheimer and if it notices poverty, it deems it its duty to give a little something back to the people.