Former PNM Labour Minister knocks plan for 18-25 year-old in URP, wants $20 minimum wage

The PNM thinks the new People's Partnership plan to include in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) workers between 18 and 25 is a bad idea.

The PNM administration had excluded workers in that age group from the programme. Last week Labour Minister and Acting Prime Minister Errol Mc Leod told the Senate that will change and the URP will offer work for all adults, starting at age 18.

However, Rennie Dumas, Labour Minister in the Manning administration is calling on government to stick with the old plan, saying 18-25 year-old should be placed in programmes that would contribute to more sustainable development for the country.

“We still have to step back and examine the programmes for young people. We should see whether we should be encouraging 18 to 25-year-olds in URP. The place we are advocating for them should be to hone their skills and embark upon a wider range of opportunities,” Dumas said at a PNM meeting over the weekend.

Dumas said he also opposes the idea of putting URP workers into agriculture.

The government plans to use URP workers to subsidise farmers who are unable to pay high wages. the plan is for the farmers to pay some of the money and the government would pick up the rest of the bill for farm work. 

McLeod told the Senate last week the government is discussing such a plan with with pineapple farmers in Tableland to have about 480 workers sent to work 800 acres of farmland.

Dumas told supporters that's not the way to go. "I am wondering if we are not abusing one part of the population for the benefit of another by saying we want to get 18 to 25 years old to grow pineapples and work in URP,” he said.

Dumas grudgingly accepted the fact that the new People's Partnership was able to move the minimum wage from $9 to $12.50 an hour, stating that the Manning administration would have done it but was handicapped by the global financial crisis.

“There was a possibility during the time of the worldwide financial crisis, it was not wise to change the minimum wage at the time. “It is now time to pay attention and deal with the minimum wage,” he said, noting that it should go as high as $20 an hour.