Orville Taylor | On the right PATH: but more needed

On Wednesday last, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr gave his contribution to the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives.

Doubtless, this ministry being my cradle, much of what he presented is of deep interest to me. Therefore, where policies are good and for the benefit of the Jamaican people, I will wholeheartedly support them.

Among the ‘gifts’ is a 70 per cent increase in the social pension, benefits, up from $6,800 to $12,000.

Almost 15,000 senior citizens are on this programme, which paid out $408 million last year. Thumbs up; it is now slated to be $1billion.

Added to that is an increase in the benefits payable under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

Already tiny, it moves now 29 per cent up to between $200 and $300. Although the budget increased by $10 million, more is needed.

Without any question whatsoever, PATH is one of the best things ever to occur within the ministry. It takes a holistic approach towards development and is anchored on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) concept of ‘decent work’. Decent work involves, among other things, opportunities for workers, and thus, their families to advance via training, other means of uplift, and social protection. Misconceived as a welfare model, it is far from that. It is a recognition that in order to have true advancement of individuals and society on the whole, we have to spend the money where we put our mouths.

As part of the overall slew of protection and support from members of the society, I certainly welcome what is really a minuscule increase in the amount of money paid out. True, a little bit is better than nothing, and every mickle makes a muckle. Nonetheless, more money needs to be available to increase not only the amount of money being given to recipients, but also to increase the number of persons, who qualify for this intervention, and are not getting it.

FAR FROM THE TRUTH

Detractors to the programme, whatever may be their agenda, often argue that an increase in the number of persons on PATH means that there is an increase in the number of persons who are needy. Far from the truth, given the relatively anaemic economic growth we have had over the past 30 years, the vulnerable population has remained more or less the same. Therefore, an increase in the amount of money spent and/or the increase in the number of beneficiaries, simply means that more of what is good is taking place.

Yes, it is true that such a small PATH increase will not have a major impact on the lives of its recipients, already getting this support. However, it must be recognised that if the amount were to even remain the same, and the number of beneficiaries were to increase even by a small number, the overall impact would be positive.

PATH, is a flagship product of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, (MLSS) and it is built on solid social science.

Contrary to an unfortunate approach and perspective of mathematicians and economists, investing in people and increased social protection by the state is not welfare.

The ILO says that the world of work should be “productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity”.

The social science behind PATH is quite the opposite of the welfare narrative. Among the variables which correlate very strongly with individual economic advancement and overall social uplift is both health and education.

If one were to single out one sole variable, which improves the life chances of an individual and the family, it would have to be education.

Education, while not guaranteeing a complete break with poverty, creates a number of opportunities for individuals to change their circumstances. The sociological research and data demonstrate easily, that the more educated an individual is, she is more likely to have children later, fewer children, a greater likelihood of being employed, more chances of being employed above the subsistence level. Every single year of education beyond grade 11 sharply improves the life chances of women. Indeed, more educated women are less likely, under normal circumstances, to be trapped in abusive relationships, or to be a burden on the state, and thus, truly be a welfare case.

GREAT ABILITIES

Males, who are more educated, have great abilities to take care of their families as well as themselves, and importantly, have much less proclivity towards being involved in gang type and other violent behaviour.

The health component is, thankfully, now being bought into by the current Ministry of Health, which describes itself as one that incorporates wellness as well.

Non-communicable lifestyle diseases are a drain on our country’s resources and economy. Moreover, healthy people are more productive. Therefore, persons seeking PATH benefits also have a responsibility to monitor their health, by having regular doctor visits.

Thus typically, the ideal candidate for assistance from PATH is one who is not looking out for handouts, but is making efforts to send or keep their children in school, while at the same time making healthy choices.

Improvement in the social pension and a range of other benefits are some of the things advocated, along with unemployment insurance and redundancy funds for more than 20 years, across administrations.

Nevertheless, the ministry’s own productivity centre, and the other pundit, who keep lamenting the low levels of labour productivity, need to take their heads from out of dark places and look at what the science says, rather than the grand narratives coming from so-called experts, who look at productivity in other countries, without having a clue after what makes a post-slavery population tick.

Trust me here, the conversation with the labour minister hopefully will continue in camera. The research and data are unambiguous and PATH type approach to the overall world of work is the only methodology that has produced both positive outcomes in terms of productivity as well as other social pathologies, such as crime and violence.

More money along the PATH, please.

Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com