Rowley urges government to remove 5% wage cap

Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has accused the People's Partnership government of betraying the labour movement in Trinidad and Tobago, adding that the government's attitude to the trade unions will negatively impact on the national economy.

Rowley made the comments Monday. He urged the government "to act responsibly" inn its dealings with the unions by removing the five per cent wage cap.

He also suggested that the government put what he calls "realistic proposals" on the table and propose incentives to encourage productivity.

Rowley told reporters, "If this labour problem is not properly solved it has the potential to undermine the gains we have made in recent years." 

He added, "Industrial peace, worker satisfaction is a prerequisite for progress in Trinidad and Tobago and the Government has a duty to do all that is necessary to bring that about not to stir it up and play bad john and threaten they can deal with anything they throw at us."

He said the government has so far failed to negotiate with the unions, choosing instead to dictate to them.