Yesterday, we took you to the Leo Bradley Library in Belize City for the official launch of a new book that chronicles the history of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. It was part of the umbrella trade union's celebration of 56 years as a major advocate of workers' rights in this country.
One matter in which the press wanted input from the NTUCB President is the Ministry of Labor's Minimum Wage Taskforce.
At the beginning of the Month, the Ministry said that the Taskforce had hired a consultant, PPF Capital Belize Limited. The Taskforce and their new consultant will hold countrywide consultations with critical stakeholders in the public. PPF Capital Belize will then submit a plan for the gradual implementation of the 5-dollar minimum wage upon the completion of the consultancy.
But, with the pandemic, the ever-increasing cost of living, and very high inflation rates, is 5 dollars enough for workers as the minimum wage? Here's what the NTUCB President had to say when the press brought the topic up yesterday:
Alindy Marisol Amaya - News Director, KREM News
"More and more, people are pointing out that these $5 are simply inadequate, one because of the pandemic and the fact that inflation just keeps going through the roof."
Luis Luke Martinez - President, NTUCB
"Of course, an increase in the minimum wage is something that we welcome. If you go back to the last exercise, which was done - I think it was 2012, that was the last exercise ten years ago. The National Trade Union Congress had submitted what could have been a formula that would have seen us beyond this point. So, we continue to support the idea of a formula. And why our formula versus look, let's just move from one point to the other? You move from one point to the other, you give the politicians an opportunity to continue to - what we term as - exploit the workers in this country for votes. So if we were to adopt that formula in 2012, then the minimum wage would have been over $5 an hour. In fact, in 2012, the National Trade Union Congress' position was at $6, including the formula that we had shared. And we're hoping that at the end of this exercise, not only will the government accept a formula that will be legally binding, but also we're hoping that we would also see the implementation of the recommendations from the task force. So, there were a number of recommendations the last time in 2012."
