The Poor Shop Assistants of Barbados
I read with utter disbelief in the Monday addition of the Nation Newspaper, when the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union said that he felt that a weekly wage of $200BDS (yes $200) is a totally unacceptable wage for shop assistants here in Barbados, I wish someone could explain to me why the past Governments have allowed this travesty to happen, I can only guess that all the politicians have been more concerned with lining their own pockets with their ill gotten gains rather than making sure that the people of Barbados do not get exploited by greedy employers.
I for one find it amazing that in this day and age people are being expected to work for a pittance of $200 a week in a country such as Barbados, where everything costs so much. Lets face it, I could understand such a weekly wage if it was a cheap country to live, i.e. it was cheap to buy food and that utilities were cheap, but as anybody lives here knows that is far from the case.
The only thing that seems to be cheap in Barbados is the Rum and now I can see why there are so many rum shops and people who frequent them on a regular basis, it is cheaper to drink liqueur than it is to eat!
I would honestly say that food is a hell of lot cheaper in the UK and we have a far better choice of produce to choose from. I know it is the same in the USA and Canada; they are also even cheaper than the UK.
I wish someone could explain to me how you are meant to survive on $200 a week in Barbados, I find it amazing that there is people out there having to suffer like that. For example I went into the shop today and bought some bottles of juice and few bits and pieces, which cost me $40 and they wont even last the day. When I was in the shop I overheard a mother saying to her child what you would like for her dinner and she ended up getting a tin of tuna and packet of biscuits, I thought to myself what a way to have to live.
To me there seems to be lot of good people that are struggling and who work hard to make ends meet in Barbados. I personally wonder if the Government really cares, I suppose they should. I would like to think that the David Thomson administration will take their hands out of the cookie jar long enough to try and make sure every worker in Barbados earns a decent wage.
As I read this article I’m looking in the Auto Guide of the local news paper and see an add for a 2000 E320 Mercedes-Benz and they are asking $45,000BDS. I have a friend back in the UK who sold the exact same car in immaculate condition 80,000km on the clock for $12,000BDS. Only a slight difference in price! The amount of duty that they charge for vehicles to come into Barbados they should have the best roads in the world, not the worst ones!
I now can see why so many of the shop assistants in Barbados couldn’t give a crap about their job or the customers, quite frankly would you if you were having to work and survive on such a pittance?
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4 Responses to “The Poor Shop Assistants of Barbados”
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oh so true. You could try asking government…
yep so now you understand why customer service can be so much crap most of the time.
what i found interesting was when the tourism association came out complaining just after christmas about the fact that the stores were closed for christmas and the bank holiday while tourists boats came in. I mean leading up to christmas some of these store clerks are on 12 hr if not more days and you dont want to let them enjoy the holidays. damn thats cold!
Thank you for posting that article. my hubby from barbados use to make 125-150 a week. And we, both living there had to live on that!!!! Wow, I can’t believe I even tried. My hubby’s boss,(American) my,my, did he ever take advantage of him. 200 a week is completely unacceptable, esp in Barbados where it costs and arm and a leg to live. Please try to post your artile in all Bdos newspapers.
Thank you
Like they did in the UK a few years ago, the Barbados Government needs to implement a fair minimum wage, that will help the fight against crooked employers that take advantage of the working classes.