Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Public servants wage debate … Millions forked out for bonds, stadiums we do not need – – Dr. David Hinds
“Obscene” is how Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds describes the “final offer” made by Government regarding wage increases for public servants. He said that it can only be seen in this light,
Dr. David Hinds
especially when one considers that the government gave itself a 50 percent increase just a year ago.
Dr. Hinds said that it has always bothered him how governments tend to become most stingy when it comes to paying workers a living wage.
The political activist said, “Here in Guyana, from Burnham and Jagan to Jagdeo-Ramotar and now Granger, their governments have come up with all kinds of excuses why their workers should not be paid more.”
He said that from the 1960s to the present, government workers always seem to have to beg for better wages, and consequently have had to take industrial action to force government’s hand.
Dr. Hinds said that to begin with, the wages of these workers are already extremely low, and even by Caribbean standards; they do not earn a living wage by any stretch of the imagination. He opined that these workers, who have to keep the government going, are being treated as if they do not have a right to life.
“Public servants in Guyana have never recovered from the International Monetary Fund’s conditionalities started by the Hoyte regime 30 years ago. Since then, their wages have always lagged very far behind the cost of living in Guyana.”
The political activist said that the problem has now become a systemic one that needs aggressive government intervention. He said that it is a matter of the human right to life, as workers are expected to pay for the bare essentials of life with their wages.
Dr. Hinds opined that it is also a matter of social equality, as most of these workers in the public service come from relatively poor backgrounds.
“When you keep their wages depressed, you are contributing to the reproduction of poverty,” Dr. Hinds opined.
He also spoke about the coalition party’s slogan “A good life for all” which was used during the election campaign season.
He said that when one contemplates the recent wage offer, it seems as if the “all” does not include public service workers.
“What good life can anyone enjoy with the kind of wages public servants earn? Look at the cost of rent, food, transportation, clothing and other essentials and tell me if the current wages can suffice? Who are public servants?”
“As I already pointed out, they are mostly poor people. A large percentage of them are women who often have to take care of their children by themselves. Most of them are from one ethnic group. And very importantly, most of them voted for the government that is now depressing their wages. Everything about that scenario is wrong.”
According to Dr. Hinds, Government has a moral and political duty to offer the workers much more than the current proposal. He stressed that the union hints that it would settle for 20 percent. He said that while this is not adequate, it would represent a decent start.
“Yes, we are not a rich country, but the little revenue we have must be fairly and justly distributed. Look at the tens of millions we are forking out for bonds we do not need, stadiums we could do without and contracts to big shots who do shoddy work, to name a few extravagances.”
Dr. Hinds stressed that the government has to put into effect the vision articulated in its manifesto. The offer to the public servants, he said, is most inconsistent with what is in that manifesto.
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) recently described Government’s ‘final offer’ on the wage increases for public servants as an absurdity.
The government proposed that persons earning below $100,000 would receive 5.5%; those earning $100,000 to $300,000 would receive 5%; persons earning $300,000 to $800,000 would receive 4.5%; those earning $800,000 to $1,000,000 would receive 2% and persons earning over a $1,000,000 would receive 1%. The below $100,000 percentage offer of 5.5% was later increased to 6%.
On the issue of allowances for public servants, the government had said that it would consider a review immediately upon the conclusion of the negotiations for wages and salaries.
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