The creation and ultimate implementation of systems to link productivity to higher wages in the public sector will be a priority of the Dr Keith Rowley administration, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste–Primus has said. “One important area that I would place before the tripartite committee is the development of a formula of linking wage increases to productivity,” she said during yesterday’s Showdown programme on I95.5FM.
“I remember a couple years ago, when I was president of the PSA (Public services Association) I had written the then minister of public administration indicating that we were prepared to sit and discuss how do we go about improving and increasing productivity in the public service: incentives, the kinds of tool and equipment, the work environment. There are certain factors that you have to pull together in order to develop that formula. That is an area of priority that I would want to place before the tripartite committee.”
Baptiste said her intent was to strengthen the small business development programme under her portfolio to further stimulate the economy and achieve a greater push toward economic diversification.
“As we all know, the backbone of any successful economy are the small businesses. And therefore, I would want to go in there (the ministry) see what is happening, what the statistic tells us, how much money has been loaned out for different businesses. Are these functioning loans? But how successful are these businesses for which the monies were loaned in term of their contribution to the economic activity of the country and there contribution to the employment rate?
“I have high expectations for this ministry. Very high benchmarks will be established. That can’t be done until an assessment is done on what is existing, at this time,” said the minister.
Baptiste-Primus said stated owned National Enterprise Development Company Limited (NEDCO) was the mechanism through which taxpayers were providing funds to be channelled in the form of start-up capital to citizens desirous of driving the motor of economic activity.
As such, she said citizens needed to know “whether or not those loans are being repaid? Whether or not there are lapses? What kind of mechanisms are in place to ensure this wheel continues to turn in a positive way?” Addressing the issue of income inequality, she said the matter would be put before the tripartite committee, which she insisted was an important organ and mechanism that would bring everyone on board.
“We know the scale will never be equally balanced. That would be Utopian,” Baptiste-Primus said. “But at least people can earn what is popularly referred to as a living wage. When people work and they cannot sustain themselves, then there is a negative spin-off in the crime rate; in all the other negative areas of the society.”