GENERAL SECRETARY of the Barbados Workers’ Union Toni Moore is seeking clarification on the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL).
Leading a session called Issues of Concern during the meeting of the full Social Partnership today at Hilton Barbados today, Moore said the trade unions wanted to know why it was increased, why a timeline of nine months had been set and what measures could be implemented to mitigate it.
Moore said moving the NSRL from 2% to 10% was “more than people can bear” because the people they represent “are the vulnerable people in the society”.
She said they wanted to know what the increase meant to the fiscal challenges and social realities Barbadians faced and whether the pace of its implementation could not be tempered.
She said these concerns were not addressed in a meeting with Government on June 23 or in letters dated July 5 and 11. Their proposal to reduce it to 5% was also rejected.
Moore said she hoped the presentations by the Central Bank would clarify the issue. She said with more than 130 000 members, the Barbados Workers’ Union was the largest labour representative body, since it also encompassed private sector workers who comprise a fifth of the work force, as well as their families.
The aim of the union, Moore said, was to bring an ease to everyone. (SAT)
