Despite the negative reactions that have trailed the minimum wage increase in Dominica, DPSU general secretary Thomas Letang said he is satisfied with the new wage. He revealed that he was part of the team that drafted the wage increase and that several factors were taken into consideration for the exercise.
Letang said this in response to certain reactions from several quarters that DPSU was not part of the consultatations. Businessman Herbert Sukie Winston, former police officer and electoral commissioner Wayne James, and former Dominica Freedom Party leader Kent Vital among others alleged that the minimum wage increase was a decision solely taken and implemented by the Skerrit-led administration.
But Letang said this is not true, and that the DPSU and DAT as well as other relevant authorities were part of the discussions. While the government critics alleged that the economy is not buoyant enough and that employers will have a serious challenge paying the new minimum wage, Letang clarified that the economic abilities of employers, as well as the capacity of the government, were considered before a resolution was reached.
We can’t just sit and say that the Minimum Wage should be that or that or that. A lot of things have to be taken into consideration and the question of ability to pay must be part of the discussion, the state of the economy must be part of the discussion.
Thomas Letang, General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU)
Although the DPSU general secretary expressed regrets that his recommendations for security guards’ remunerations were not implemented, he said that the minimum wage will be reviewed every three years henceforth. He stated that the capacity of local employers to pay has been clearly proven and that employers can pay without resorting to retrenching workers. The new minimum wage increase is slated to take effect on September 1, 2021.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
