While the majority of employers in Barbados are fair and reasonable, there are some who exploit workers and the Minimum Wages Bill will aid in the reduction of this.
Leading off the debate in the Lower House on Tuesday, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss, stated: “We cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there are not a few, who if left unchecked would start to work towards creating the kind of culture and norm that we don’t want to permeate in our society and I think that is where you begin to recognise the need for legislative reform that bring these issues to the fore frontally and at the same time, find sustainable solutions as enshrined in law.”
In addition, the MP for St. James South pointed out that the human resources is especially needed to thoroughly investigate complaints in order to have those breaking the law feel its full weight.
He outlined that the bill will make provision for establishment of Minimum Wage Board which will advise the Minister on all matters relating to the fixing of a minimum wage including the national minimum wage to be paid to an employee; minimum wage to be paid to a specified group or sector of employees; and terms and conditions of service and the minimum work conditions of an employee to whom a minimum wage applies.
“It is not a board to just advise as to what the minimum wage should be, but the terms and conditions of service applicable to those to whom a minimum wage applies and that is very critical because the conversation is not just about whether you get $10 per hour, $12 per hour or $6 per hour as a wage, but what are the other conditions that must apply. The conditions for lunch hour for example because there are some who believe that they hire a low skilled worker, a domestic worker and who say ‘you are supposed to work eight hours and you are not supposed to take any time for lunch or get a little breather’. Some even say that you are not supposed to go to the bathroom or you cannot use the food in my house and the reality is that these are the kind of conditions that we reflect upon,” he added. (JMB)
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