By Caribbean News Global
SOUFRIERE, St Lucia – Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre in his budget address 2024/25, announced, “It is our hope and our desire to follow the rules and that Saint Lucian workers will have a new Minimum Liveable Wage by August 1, 2024.”
Delivering the Emancipation Day address in Soufriere, on August 1, the prime minister made a declaration that government pensioners will receive a minimum of $725 per month, benefitting 3,438 pensioners across the country; and announced that effective October 1, 2024, eligible employees can look forward to a change in their salaries.
“No worker in this country will earn less than XCD 6.50 per hour or $1,126.00 per (or 52.00 per day).” The Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Pierre reckoned, that, “13,000 people are expected to benefit immediately with salary increases as a result of that policy.”
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Prime Minister Pierre messaged the business community, saying:
“There are whispers that some of you are planning to do otherwise. I want to discourage you from attempting to lay off workers, instead of rewarding their years of hard work with this minimum wage. To do this would be to sow the seeds of discord, disenchantment and probably criminal activity, which would be counterproductive for all of us in the long run.”
“A contented workforce is a productive workforce. A productive workforce advances the development of the entire country,” Prime Minister Pierre stated. “ While we understand the profit motive of businesses, I want to appeal to you to give equal consideration to the welfare of your employees and your social responsibility to the wider community.”
Conceivable, entrepreneurs and box store operators are rightsizing relative to inflation, the rising cost of doing business in Saint Lucia, while hoteliers are preparing for a rotating option and the need for more concessions, amidst government policy implementation.
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“The tendency to “inflict” policy, good or bad results very often in missed opportunities for more refined and systematic policy and policy implementation. We saw this with the Health and Security Levy and now, the Minimum Wage, where time for consultation and dialogue was curtailed by the approach adopted to introduce and implement.”
“To date, the ministry of finance has not offered a view or shared the result of their review of the Minimum Wage and its impact on the economy and society. The Chamber has expressed its concern to the powers that be, and it is left to be seen if this pattern of policy implementation remains the order of the day.” ~ St Lucia Chamber of Commerce.
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Reverberating across minimum wage, pension amendment and the politics that continue to defeat economic growth and development the (OPM) in a statement on August 2, 2024, was not inescapable.
“Each of these (13,000) individuals will be financially better off than before Prime Minister Pierre came to office. The new minimum liveable wage will ensure no worker in Saint Lucia makes less than the revised rates. The transition period, until October 1, allows employers to adjust their practices to ensure full compliance with the new regulations.” ~ OPM
The minimum wage milestone was guided by the Minimum and Livable Wages Commission (The Commission), established in 2022 under this administration. The Commission, together with local private sector leaders and employers, held consultations to determine the initial minimum wage rates.
The government of Saint Lucia is perchance illustrating that it is working to improve the standard of living for working-class Saint Lucians by using people-first policies to ensure ordinary Saint Lucians always have a fighting chance – exclusively radiated from the ruling government.
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“In June, the Prime Minister moved a motion in parliament to amend the Pensions Act, which guarantees an increase in monthly pension payments for government pensioners to XCD 725. The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) increased monthly pension payments to $500 – as such – 3,438 NIC pensioners will benefit from the increased monthly payments,” the OPM added. “Recognizing the importance of a dignified retirement, the government of Saint Lucia has also addressed the needs of pensioners. With limited spending power, higher consumer prices can erode the standard of living for so many retired Saint Lucians whose efforts advanced the development of our country.”
In conversations about the future, it is worth remembering the true state of the country and the economy – the labour market, crime, healthcare and inflation – that are raising questions on the bright spot of the “Year of Infrastructure“. The apparatus and who represents them is a highly sensitive dilemma to “underscoring incomprehensible governance and the clamorous political system that requires revitalisation.”
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