Senator David Massiah has called on the government to establish both an unemployment fund and a severance protection fund to safeguard workers in Antigua and Barbuda, citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during the Senate budget debate, Massiah argued that the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the country’s support systems for workers. He stressed the need for sustainable solutions to protect employees during periods of economic uncertainty.
“The COVID-19 pandemic showed us the importance of having a safety net for workers. We need an unemployment fund and a severance protection fund to ensure that ordinary people are not left destitute when crises strike,” Massiah said.
He proposed that the severance protection fund would serve as a financial safety net to ensure workers receive their severance entitlements if their employers are unable to meet these obligations. The fund, he argued, would act as a buffer to prevent workers from being left unpaid, particularly in cases of company closures or economic downturns.
“Too often, workers are forced to rely on empty promises when businesses shut their doors. A severance protection fund would guarantee that they receive what is rightfully theirs,” he added.
Massiah also advocated for the creation of an unemployment fund, designed to provide financial support to workers who lose their jobs. He pointed out that such a system is essential to maintaining social stability and ensuring that families can survive during difficult times.
“The time has come for Antigua and Barbuda to adopt forward-thinking measures to protect its workforce. Workers are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve the security of knowing they will not be left to fend for themselves,” he said.
Massiah noted that the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union has already prepared draft proposals for these funds and urged the government to engage stakeholders to bring them to fruition.
“The groundwork has been laid. It is now up to the government to act and demonstrate its commitment to the people,” he stated.
The senator’s proposal comes amid ongoing discussions about economic resilience and worker protection in Antigua and Barbuda. He called on the government to prioritise these initiatives, emphasising their role in creating a more resilient and equitable society.
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can you please provide the data of how many persons a year are left without due severance due to a company closing its doors? can you provide the data for 2022, 2023, 2024.
Perhaps severance is actually a bad thing for the economy as it promotes workers with a false sense of security and assists in creating working conditions that become toxic because an employee wants “a payout” and will stick around with less productive work brining down the entire workplace.
Workers need to do better for themselves and revolve into different jobs instead of getting complacent in one job for any length of time. Take a risk, do better for you and your family. keep stiving to success and don’t get complacent in the same position.
This man DOES NOT CARE ABOUT WORKERS!!!!