Awards don’t bring jobs – Franklyn

Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn believes there is no need to introduce a new law to award Barbados’ frontline COVID-19 workers and that a planned one-time payment for the awardees is insufficient as they should be compensated all the time.

Making clear in the Senate Friday that he has no objection to these persons being recognised, he questioned the reason for rushing through the Barbados Humanitarian Service Award Bill and Gold Award of Achievement (Amendment) Bill so awards could be presented in January.

The proposed new bill and amended legislation are intended to give recognition to Barbadians and some non-nationals from all walks of life for their efforts during the pandemic and also to facilitate a one-time financial grant for their tireless and brave work in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

“Great triumph in this instance is to be found in the background to these two awards,” said Senator Lisa Cummins, as she presented the two bills for joint consideration in the Senate.

“Out of this great trial we have seen the triumph of the human spirit,” she added.

But in a presentation that not only triggered objections by colleague senators but also saw some comments struck from the record, Franklyn contended that the creation of a new law is unnecessary as there already exists within Barbados’ statutes legislation under which these outstanding persons could be recognised.

“Everything that we’re doing here now could be achieved under current awards that we have,” he said explaining that his comments are no slight to the workers. “This is not to be-little the contribution that people have made.”

He contended that thousands of Barbadians are out of work and the issue of unemployment should be treated as priority instead of ‘little feel-good things’ like the two bills.

“Will these awards find a single job for anybody other than the fellow that makes the pins?” he queried.

He said the legislation should not be treated as emergencies that have to be passed in one day.

The union leader’s biggest issue, however, was with the proposed one-off payment that comes with the awards as he argued that these persons have been working overtime and they should be paid for all of that work done according to Laws of Barbados.

“These people are actually working, so a one-time gratuitous payment would not suffice under the laws that we have,” he said adding that the workers are entitled “by law and by international convention” signed by the government on May 08, 1967, to payment for work done. “If they work overtime … they are entitled to be paid,” he told the Chamber.

Franklyn said the 1967 agreement was under the Protection of Wages Convention and, which Barbados committed to at its Independence.

“I will be happy for anyone to get rewarded for the service that they did but I want them to get paid too,” the Senator said, adding that an award alone, “does not put food in the belly”. (GA)