Dear Editor,
There has been some criticism of the government’s part-time employment programme however, for some categories of persons there are tangible benefits to be reaped and a pathway for positive changes in their present circumstances. While some critics have voiced real concerns about a labour shortage in vital sectors, the promotion of a welfare state and encouragement of work-shy, lazy adults the part-time employment programme can actually enlarge the labour force by adding adults who otherwise wouldn’t be employed if this part-time option wasn’t available. And another dimension to the programme that hasn’t garnered much attention, but the potential is there, is the empowerment of women and the reduction of some social issues through economic mobility.
The categories of persons who would find the part-time work programme most beneficial are university students enrolled in full-time studies, housewives or the single parent unable to work full-time due to childcare responsibilities and the still active elderly/retirees who can now supplement their meagre pensions. Editor, $40,000 per month is an allowance not a salary, can people really sustain themselves on that? Can it provide food, pay the bills, rent/mortgage, and cover transportation and other essentials? While it will supplement household income or provide a struggling university student with the financial resources to cover expenses related to his/her studies such as the internet, books, stationery and bus fare I don’t see it as a threat to economic development by causing a reduction of the current labour force and the creation of a large pool of work-shy people willing to ‘survive’ on only $40,000 per month in a country where inflation is taking a toll on both the poor and rich.
At this moment, many schools are understaffed particularly in the areas of Mathematics, Information Technology and the Sciences (Chemistry, Physics and Biology) while quite a number of university students enrolled in these programmes struggle with covering their study related expenses. Those who are engaged in the part-time work programme can be used effectively in the school system. Also, women who are unable to work fulltime due to childcare and other household responsibilities can provide themselves with some financial freedom by having their own money, although a small sum, but it’s better than being dependent especially if one’s circumstances are not good. Oftentimes, women find it difficult to leave an abusive environment because they lack financial resources. And let’s not forget ageism and reality that many elderly persons who are still capable of working are surviving on $33,000 per month.
Although, they may be employed to do ‘light work’ there is dignify and pride in earning one’s dollar plus these folks deserve to have some of that oil wealth trickle down to them. Editor, although the part-time employment programme may not tick all the boxes as being an ideal programme and may need altering or could even be abolished in the future, presently it does have some merits. Due the high poverty rate and the fact that most employed individuals including professionals do not earn a liveable wage, the work programme would benefit many whose circumstances including university studies would be positively impacted.
Sincerely,
Narissa Deokarran
