Chairman of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), Cedric Murrell, is satisfied that jobs have been protected in this week’s budgetary proposals, notwithstanding increases in bus fares and the Value Added Tax.
Murrell told the Saturday Sun: “When we met with the Minister (of Finance) we wanted the protection of jobs. We also wanted that any adjustments that had to be made to bring the Barbados economy back into balance should be made in such a way that it was made over a longer term rather than a “sharp collins” which would harm people in a way that some people would not be able to recover”.
“I think generally that wish has been observed.”
Murrell said while increases in taxation and VAT would “clearly have a negative effect on members’ purchasing power” CTUSAB? did not not believe the measures were so draconian that its members would “go under”.
However, he suggested that persons who found themselves “in that kind of position” could make representation to their trade unions, adding that CTUSAB?did not believe it was a static situation given the promise of Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to review the VAT inxcrease within a year.
“We would expect that we would be part of that review having been at the table when the decision was taken,” Murrell said.
The trade unionist acknowledged that while the purchasing power of CTUSAB members would be affected, they would retain their jobs.
Murrell said the budgetary measures called for the private sector “to hold a bit more strain as they have admirably been doing”, and for CTUSAB membership to recognise that the way for Barbados to overcome the current economic crisis was to become more productive.
The CTUSAB chairman told of concern among members about some of the changes in allowances, pointing out that part of the impact of that taxation was that some people in the middle income strata who would have had commitments to mortgages, might find that their disposable income was affected negatively.
“One would hope that those cases would be taken account of by the banking system, the credit union system and wherever else people have credit and may need an ease,” Murrell said.
However, he maintained the economy of Barbados had to make an adjustment.
Murrell also called on the manufacturing sector to find niche areas and products that could be exported to the world.
“Barbados has to set its standards higher because the world is really our competitor. Our manufacturing industry has to understand that while the local market and the regional market can support it, we have to look to see what are those niche areas and products that we can export to the world.” (GC)
