De guvament hemming and haWing with de minimum wage

May 09, 2022 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists

Kaieteur News – Lang ago, de labour department did investigating whether workers getting de minimum wage. Dem go tuh a farm and ask fuh interview de farmer bout he workers and wah he paying dem.
One ah de inspectas said to de farmer, “Tell me about your worker.”
“Well,” de farmer say, “De farmhand does get pay above de minimum wage. Plus he gat a lil shack and does get he meals free.”
Den dere is de maid. She does also get paid above de minimum wage, along with free board and lodge.”
And finally, dere is de half-wit. He does wuk 16 hours a day, do 90% ah de wuk, and does NOT get pay.”
“That is disgraceful,” said de inspecta, “Ah need to interview de half-wit.”
”Dat is me,” de farmer say.
Dem boys does remember dat story whenever de issue of de minimum wage come up. De unions raise de matter last week during May Day observance. De unions want de guvament to declare de minimum wage at $60,000 per month.
But de guvament hemming and haying. De matter languishing in Cabinet. Yet, dem oil company getting de field development and environmental permits before yuh could seh, “Quicksilver!”
Is suh when yuh gat a working class guvament. It does wuk fuh de class wah employing de workers.
It mek dem boys remember de time a man went fuh a job interview. De boss tell he, “We gan start yuh with de minimum wage. But don’t worry, it gan double within two years.”
De man turn to dem and seh: “I gan be back in two years.”
Talk half. Leff half.