Comments on: Discussion: ‘Living Wage – Relief Is On The Way’

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:32:00 +0000

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!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:26:19 +0000

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!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:22:56 +0000

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!

By: zzzzz

zzzzz — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 09:49:22 +0000

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.

By: Bullwinkle T. Mooseknuckle

Bullwinkle T. Mooseknuckle — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 03:08:09 +0000

Ummmm minimum wage for labourer should be $25 an hour…I draw this from gdp.

By: Bullwinkle T. Mooseknuckle

Bullwinkle T. Mooseknuckle — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 03:00:42 +0000

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.

By: The Original Truth™

The Original Truth™ — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:05:56 +0000

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.

By: Jus' Askin'

Jus' Askin' — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:19:31 +0000

Silly Wabbits

BYE BYE JOBS!!!

By: Portia

Portia — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:09:55 +0000

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.

By: Gustav

Gustav — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:04:36 +0000

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

By: Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:59:29 +0000

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).

By: question

question — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:59:21 +0000

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’.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:41:55 +0000

The problem is, this is looking to fix the symptom not the cause.

By: Genius

Genius — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:18:39 +0000

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.

By: Joe Bloggs

Joe Bloggs — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:07:33 +0000

Now, now. You cannot really expect economic common sense to affect political jingoism.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:41:30 +0000

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.

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:20:42 +0000

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.

By: Deborah Norman

Deborah Norman — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:10:03 +0000

So you think being paid under $12 an hour is fine? and companies should continue doing it?

By: Deborah Norman

Deborah Norman — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:09:01 +0000

So let me get this right you think being paid under 12 dollars an hour is fine?

By: sick & tired

sick & tired — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 12:14:42 +0000

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.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:56:05 +0000

They really have no clue. Utterly bereft of ideas. This exposes the lack of understanding completely.

By: haha

haha — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:52:10 +0000

The PLP is the hole in the bucket that is Bermuda.

By: David

David — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:49:23 +0000

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

By: Bermuda born... Bermuda raised

Bermuda born... Bermuda raised — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:40:28 +0000

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

By: Question

Question — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:08:40 +0000

Won’t be long before we have automated checkouts.

This lot still have not created one single actual JOB.