IT WAS not a secret that government had intended to introduce a new national minimum wage.

This position was made quite clear in 2012, when Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul, announced minimum wages for the categories of shopkeepers, fuel station attendants, restaurant workers, and bar attendants. On that occasion, he made it known that Cabinet was considering the formulation of a national minimum wage that will cater for the other types.
Of course, in adherence to its well known policy of seeking the broadest mosaic of representation on such an important issue, a tripartite body of representatives from the trade unions, the key business and commerce sector, and the government considered all the different positions and would have arrived at the decision on a new national minimum wage and the very important five-day 40-hour work week.
Since it was a position on which the business sector had been adequately represented, why all the hue and cry about difficulties with implementation of the new dispensation? Is it not odd, that this particular issue, rather than being raised at that proper forum, is now being publicly aired? This is dishonest, for a group that has always posited itself as nationally principled. Is this a case of disbelief, and great disappointment that their stranglehold over thousands of mainly young working class persons had finally ended, or grudging disappointment that they will finally have to  pay more money for labour over a strictly regulated period of work, and that any tasks performed beyond such period, will mean further compensation?
Whichever of the two, it was inconceivable that after doing so much for improving  public sector wages, that government, with such a rich working class tradition, would not have taken steps to remedy the very inhuman conditions under which so many thousands laboured at private sector entities.
All that these new regulations have done is to protect the dignity, and upgrade the social life of 35,000, who will now be receiving decent wages for their services, working at regulated time, and receiving further payment for task performed beyond. Concomitantly also, they will now be able to have much more time for spiritual and physical rejuvenation, and with their respective families. After all, they are every bit as human as those for whom they work.