Discussion: ‘Living Wage – Relief Is On The Way’
[Written by Don Burgess]
“Work should lift you out of poverty, not keep you there.”
That slogan is attached to a discussion on the proposed living wage which will be held on Thursday, October 18 at St Paul Centennial Hall at 6:30 pm.
It is proposed that the Living Wage is set at $12.25 per hour as of May 1, 2019, then at $18.23 as of May 1, 2020. On May 1, 2021, the implementation of the national living wage will be proposed by the Wage Commission, and afterwards to biennially index the wage to inflation.
Panelists include statistician Cordell Riley, Rev Nicholas Tweed, MP Rolfe Commissiong, and Martha Dismont who is director of the Family Center. Mr Commissiong chaired the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on the Living Wage. MP Kim Swan will moderate the discussion.
The event, titled The Living Wage – Relief is on the Way, is sponsored by the PLP Political Education Committee.
The Parliamentary Joint Select Committee’s report on a Living Wage [PDF here]:
Won’t be long before we have automated checkouts.
This lot still have not created one single actual JOB.
Hey, at least we know who to blame when economics 101 happens and this policy ends up hurting the very people it’s intended to help
And what’s the plan when all businesses simply increase their prices to offset the increase in labour costs and to maintain margins???
Just curious
Price controls. Remember the Price Control Commission?
The plan appears to be to inflate wages and cap costs so that small businesses go bankrupt (it will not affect large businesses).
The PLP is the hole in the bucket that is Bermuda.
They really have no clue. Utterly bereft of ideas. This exposes the lack of understanding completely.
Get ready for more lay offs. Some companies are just about getting by. How do you propose they afford these increases. The only way will be to lay off staff and increase their prices, which puts them right back in the same boat.
So you think being paid under $12 an hour is fine? and companies should continue doing it?
The problem is, this is looking to fix the symptom not the cause.
Now, now. You cannot really expect economic common sense to affect political jingoism.
So let me get this right you think being paid under 12 dollars an hour is fine?
It should be a free negotiation between the employer and employee. And next year the plan is to increase it by 50% to over $18 an hour. So some people are going to lose their jobs because of this, Deborah.
All while the PLP talk about ‘reducing the cost of living’.
No actually, if you read the article it is proposed to start at $12.25 per hour as of May 1, 2019, and then potentially move to $18.23 as of May 1, 2020, not next year.
And no, labor negotiations cannot be a free exchange between employer and employee because too many businesses have shown how badly they behaved in the past by taking advantage of workers, so SOME sort of Government regulation of labor is necessary. Most businesses do not want to offer pensions, health insurance, sick leave etc. If these protections did not exist, who do you think would be left holding the bill if a worker gets sick and can’t work? Who do you think they will come to for help? Answer: Government and/or charities. So Government does need to get involved.
This is what happens when people who have no idea of how business works try to dictate how run a business. You voted for it.
Burt claims he is an economist. I would like to have him show one example of a minimum (or living) wage that has had a positive impact on a country’s economy and the for the people who live/lived in that economy.
They are selling a concept to people that workers will have more money in their pockets, but are omitting to point out the fact that prices will increase to make the purchasing power of that money the same or worse.
Stupidity incarnate.
But it “will be different when we do it”…for some bizarre reason, because we live in Bermuda, which is another world.
you sick people and ignorant politicians, you think 12$ is a living wage? I am on $24 and struggle to make it month to month, with lowest rent, lowest bills, etc. Health insurance here is atrocious and the way they run those companies is like a mob racket. Half my paycheck goes to unused health insurance, I pay about $18,000 for it and what do I see out of it? I still pay $90 for my bi-annual dentist visit, still had to fork out $1500 for a dental procedure which cost $3,000, and still pay $35 to go to the doctor for half an hour. A living wage here would be $25, a decent wage would be over $25 for sure. Get your heads right people.
ok understand
why don’t you say : at least $ 50.00 per hour ?
in that case you are fine .
because your employer ( and those of all the others ) will not increase their selling rates.
they will take it out of their huge margin they have already .
and btw medical should be free of charge for all grass root Bermudians.
is that your dream ?
keep on dreaming , you simply don’t understand that the world is not turning around bermudians
Silly Wabbits
BYE BYE JOBS!!!
Wow! That’s almost the same as Canada’s minimum wage even after conversion. If an employer can’t pay their employee more than someone working at a Tim Hortons in Canada than they need to face it they have no business skills. The robbery prices charged for products & services in Bermuda are for more than Tim Hortons. I could get a wrap, a frapachino & a box of timbits for the same price as one burger no fries, no drink just the burger from a restaurant in Bermuda.
A company just attempted to hire a Mason and was offered 17 dollars an hour…the prospective employer inicated it was all he could offer due to high cost of required deductions.He could pay more maybe if buisiness picks up….oh yes he regrets not having put in for two work permits cause then he could have another low paid fellow (he could train to work for less).
Has any one any insite as to what 40 hors looks like after deductions?
Then take fuel(petrol), gas ,electricity,rent,morgage?,medicine,clothing,hair care, repairs,don’t get a parking ticket,parking in Hamilton,you cannot eat out, do you have landscapers?,what happens if your psycotic neighbour steals a tank full of water,you cannot afford legal council (so your on your own),Now…what happens if you have mouths to feed…their needs (all the above),then you have to drive your own trash to tynes bay, if your cycle or car doesn’t go so now you have to catch a cab Cha ching!No public transportation means you just lost that MEAGER wage that really has NO correlation to inflation or cost of living…………and you think I care if your social account has been impersonated…when I hear it it seems like a rather small issue comparatively.
I wish I had time for trivial pursuit but my doggies gotta poop…have a nice day.
Ummmm minimum wage for labourer should be $25 an hour…I draw this from gdp.
I’m against additional regulation, but, if you can’t pay your staff $12.25 an hour or even $18.23 I’d suggest you don’t have a viable business in 2018.
Legislating a minimum wage a above the $18.23 mark may be as step too far.
Imposing a luxury tax to subsidize some of the living wage costs would be wise. Tourism is a service industry, if you cant afford the luxury of a vacation, stay home! If you want setvice- pay fairly for it! The people who wait on folks so that they can enjoy such priveldeges, also have to eat, have a place to live and means to care for a family, as well. I say, put up- or shut up! Im not kissing asses for fun, most certainly not for free! I’m commenting from Cape Cod, MA where we’re experiencing the exact same issues. Minimum wage increased to $12.00, just this year. Our shelters are full and homelessness is rampant. I’m not asking for a handout, I work my ass off. Can’t believe the idiots who feel that slave wages are okay! Always wanting to prosper at the expense of others! Most of the same people only arrived at their privledge status because of slavery- The audacity of you!
Imposing a luxury tax to subsidize some of the living wage costs would be wise. Tourism is a service industry, if you cant afford the luxury of a vacation, stay home! If you want service- pay fairly for it! The people who wait on folks so that they can enjoy such priveldeges, also have to eat, have a place to live and means to care for a family, as well. I say, put up- or shut up! I’m not kissing asses for fun, most certainly not for free! I’m commenting from Cape Cod, MA where we’re experiencing the exact same issues. Minimum wage increased to $12.00, just this year. Our shelters are full and homelessness is rampant. I’m not asking for a handout, I work my ass off. Can’t believe the idiots who feel that slave wages are okay! Always wanting to prosper at the expense of others. Most of the very same people only arrived at their “privileged” status, because of slavery- The audacity of you!
Imposing a luxury tax to subsidize some of the living wage costs would be wise. Tourism is a service industry, if you cant afford the luxury of a vacation, stay home! If you want service- pay fairly for it! The people who wait on folks so that they can enjoy such privileges, also have to eat, have a place to live and means to care for a family, as well. I say, put up- or shut up! I’m not kissing asses for fun, most certainly not for free! I’m commenting from Cape Cod, MA; where we’re experiencing the exact same issues. Minimum wage increased to $12.00, just this year. Our shelters are full and homelessness is rampant. I’m not asking for a handout, I work my ass off. Can’t believe the idiots who feel that slave wages are okay! Always wanting to prosper at the expense of others. Most of the very same people only arrived at their “privileged” status, because of slavery- The audacity of you!