Letter of the Day | Create decent, fair income opportunities

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The appreciation for decent work is gradually being eroded by options often found on the opposite side of morality or the law. These options require far less effort and are sometimes more lucrative. Unfortunately, many persons appear to favour the latter.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), “Decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for all, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organise and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.”

Some organisations have been slow to adapt to the digital age and are still, for the most part, rather industrial in their operations. This is compounded by the idea that no matter how academically qualified or talented, one must pay one’s dues in years of service before consideration is given for higher positions, with more attractive compensation, in some professions.

What, then, do we use to attract and keep talented people in the workplace and keep them out of trouble? It will take more than instilling values and attitudes. That fair income of which the ILO speaks is significant. We could start by reviewing entry-level salaries, which should at least allow a young graduate to live independently, and comfortably.

Many of our youth have entrepreneurial dreams; this is something which should be embraced. The idea of being shackled by a nine-to-five is becoming a deterrent.

COVID-19 has given us a glimpse of how work arrangements could be different and consistent with the digital age. Remote work can be a mutually beneficial arrangement. It gives the worker a break from being in daily traffic and more energy to perform their duties optimally. It reduces transportation costs for the employee and overhead costs for the employer. Done correctly, it is a win-win situation.

Teachers aren’t the only ones we are losing. We are losing our workforce to some of the self-made positions they have created, which often see them ending up on the wrong side of the law, or worse.

It takes a strong individual to embrace decent work as it is. Unfortunately, in today’s world, that strength is eroded by the glitz and glamour which comes from get-rich-quick schemes. Offer more decent work for a decent society.

SUZETTE CAMPBELL