Veteran Trade Wants Minimum Wage Increased

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Veteran trade unionist Sir Roy Trotman has called on the David Thompson administration to immediately increase the minimum wage available to workers in Barbados. “The minimum wage has to be increased now and not next year,” Sir Roy, the general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), told a May Day rally on Saturday.

“We have not got the government to agree that the minimum wage should be increased for time to time so that people do not keep falling off into the poverty truck. Government has not got there yet, but it is an ongoing exercise,” he added.

There are no legislated minimum wages except for shop assistants, where wages have been set at BDS$5.00 (US$2.50) per hour. Meantime, the trade unionist said there was also the problem of labour exploitation by employers who were “wicked to the extreme”.

“We have got a major problem with the abuse of workers … I am going to lead a struggle against that,” Sir Roy said. “Those people who feel that slavery can be brought back because we have a relationship of social dialogue, let them on this May Day understand that we prefer peace but we never run from a war,” he warned.

However, the BWU general secretary said there was no disputing that there have been advances in raising working standards in Barbados.

“The pursuit of decent work is an ongoing task and responsibility and no one can deny that there has been success at every level,” he said.

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