CTUSAB president calls out employers for reducing work hours

Businesses are being accused of reducing employees’ work hours weekly to prevent them from collecting benefits under the minimum wage legislation.

President of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) Edwin O’Neal, said while the Mia Amor Mottley-led administration passed the legislation to raise the minimum wage to allow the poorest paid workers to work for better wages, there are “big businesses” that have been cutting workers’ hours per week preventing many of them from reaping the full benefits of the legislation.

“The persons who did that are the very ones who make noise for VAT forgiveness; who make noise for forgiveness when they hold the deductions for taxes and NIS [National Insurance Scheme]. When I worked in another place and any person held on to money that was not theirs, there was a description for that in the criminal court,” O’Neal said as he delivered remarks at Monday’s CTUSAB Labour Day Rally and Concert, at Golden Square Freedom Park, in the City.

He also took a swipe at those who are threatening the viability and continuity of CTUSAB. Unfortunately, he said, the threats are not only coming from external agencies, but also internal stakeholders.

O’Neal said while he would not wash what he described as all the dirty linen in public, he is serving notice on those who by their actions, or lack of, are seeking to bring the viability of CTUSAB under pressure.

He said while the trade union movement has been characterised by negotiations, there are rules and regulations involved in the process.

“You don’t join an organisation and then when you don’t get things your way, like the little boy you pull up stumps and done play. To those on the outside and inside who want to take potshots at CTUSAB, I ask you what can you do for the union? We are constantly in a battle and as long as God gives me strength, I shall fight that battle,” O’Neal added. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb