Right way!

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. (FP)

By Barry Alleyne | Mon, January 21, 2013 - 12:10 AM

AN HONEST DAY’S WORK FOR AN HONEST DAY’S PAY. That is what Prime Minister Freundel Stuart wants to see more of in Barbados.

According to the political leader of the Democratic Labour Party, anything less than that will aid in stunting Barbados’ way forward as a developing nation.

Stuart made the assertion to the workers of Barbados on Saturday night, while delivering a 45-minute feature address at the 20th anniversary dinner and awards ceremony of ADC Building Maintenance, held at the Concorde Experience, just adjacent to the Grantley Adams International Airport, in Seawell, Christ Church.

“The people of Barbados must realize giving an honest day’s work for honest day’s pay is one of the most important things when it comes to our development,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is what all employers expect, and should expect. We can’t ignore the complaints that we hear from employers about this,” Stuart said.

Please read the full story in today’s DAILY NATION, or in the eNATION edition.

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Posted by Jane Brown 4 months ago: You're quite right Mr. PM. Absenteeism and tardiness is what affects production and that is where we fall down. It hampers our economy.

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Posted by Carl Harper 4 months ago: The concept of "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay" is outdated. That approach has served trade unions and employers well in the collective bargaining process during the last century but it is time to up the ante.

The business arena has undergone a myriad of organizational and technological developments in the last 13 years. The focus needs to shift to "a productive day's work for a productive day's pay" if we are to remain competitive and relevant in this dynamic world. In other words, that "pay" must be tied to performance and output.

Too many people are showing up for work - even if arriving and going home on time - and occupying workstations for eight hours daily without being productive; a practice that will not take us to the next level in our development. Yet we express surprise when foreign entities aggressively and cleverly takeover our prized companies, then impose unacceptable conditions on our way of life.

If unions would only implore their members to increase productivity and give excellent customer service, our tax rates could fall, salary increases would be greater, the cost of living might stabilize, companies could give enhanced benefits to employees and donate more to charities as their profits increase, and goverment would be in a better position to deliver on its social services.

Of course the above considers all things being equal, as many other factors impact on creating the ideal scenario. Someone must however be willing to "bell the cat." Unions cannot be demanding massive wage increases every couple years while productivity lingers far behind. This imbalance is not sustainable over the long-term.

By giving a little more productivity, the country could even surpass the meager 0.7% projected growth for this year. This is what is needed to provide a brighter future for all.

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Posted by Bim Bum 4 months ago: Bajans en come out fuh nuh hard wuk.
Dum want de money doah..

Solution: let dum stan home
- and de post,an will bring de cheque in de mail!
Works for many English on the dole
so why not for Barbados?

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Posted by wayne husbands 4 months ago: WELL SAID FROON...... GOOD WORK ETHIC IS A NECCESSITY

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Posted by abotaahir taylor 4 months ago: True, but what are the underlining issues to low productivity? is it low morale, lack of incentives, lack of reward systems,poor management or leaders or square pegs in round holes? or maybe most people want it easy i dont know, i am not a social scientist.
what an employer gives to his employees he/she will get in return and that's honest!

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Posted by Jane Brown 4 months ago: ABOTAAHIR TAYLOR it all goes back to the study of Organisational Behavior. It can be any number of underlying issues. But it is the responsibility of management to understand the way that people and groups interact in the workplace and try to encourage them to pick up certain habits that will be beneficial to the company.