Letter of the Day | Public-sector wage increase will burden the poor

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The public sector compensation review process has been done at a reported price tag of a billion dollars. Can the country afford these exorbitant wages? Are they justified? How will these wages affect the maintenance of the crumbling, ageing infrastructure?

This has now led to the unusual situation where persons in the public sector, which primarily consist of loss-making entities, are receiving better salaries than private-sector persons in equivalent positions. This is rarely seen and, unfortunately, will become a tool in the creation of an unequal society. If it is true that persons in the public sector needed these vast sums of money to live comfortably, would it not be the same for those in the private sector? Have we been told of the rationale involved in arriving at these massive percentages? But we all know that self-interest is a powerful motivating factor for one to embark upon a particular course of action.

The political directorate cannot mandate private-sector firms to increase salaries. The truth is that the private sector has been plagued by meagre to no increase over many years. But the inescapable truth is that the implementation of the public sector transformation process has created undesirable side effects; one of which is that more pain will be heaped upon the poor. This must be seen as what it is – a transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich, or at least from the poor to those who are better off than them. It is the already heavily burdened and indebted Jamaicans who will be forced, through taxation, to pay these monstrous public-sector salaries. I am not suggesting that there is an increase in taxation. It has been reasoned that the tax net has been widened, but nevertheless it is still the poor who will be affected most.

The political directorate has created, by these wage disparities, a situation where few will live comfortably while the masses continue to struggle. It is said that the average Jamaican’s monthly salary is around $80,000. This salary is received on the 25th of the month in most cases, and by the next day the recipients are broke. They are now compelled to borrow and beg until the 25th of the next month – the vicious cycle of poverty kicks in all over again. Yet, these unfortunate people, battered by inflation and high prices, will be called upon to pay these unbelievable salaries for those in the public sector. No one is contending that the public sector should not have received an increase, but this is too much.

The powers that be have asked too much of the poor. Could they have not settled for less? The majority of us are struggling financially. I guess the brain drain will continue. Our brightest will be more convinced now that no one is looking out for them and it’s best they pack their bags and go – north, that is.

CLARENCE CHANCE