The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is appealing to the powers that be to formulate and implement a comprehensive social and economic package now that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has backed citizens to a corner.
The bloc is calling for “sober” considerations and positive approval for several measures, including that no worker suffers any loss of pay. It is urging Government “to lead by example” and to work together with private employers to ensure that their employees do not unduly suffer.
Also, the federation is recommending that direct financial support be given to self-employed and the jobless to ensure they are able to sustain their obligations and maintain their families.
It also recommended: a complete waiver of income and value-added taxes for at least six months to cushion the hike in the cost-of-living; a suspension of electricity, water, phone and internet tariffs for all households for the next six months; to work out arrangements with hire purchase, commercial banks and other lending institutions for a suspension of payments for six months and rescheduling of debt obligations of workers and for those unemployed to be afforded a write-off of their indebtedness; distribution of masks, gloves and other necessary items to the wider populace; and the exemption from duties and other fees and taxes of all items critical citizen wellbeing and to confront the COVID-19 virus.
Further, FITUG said that appropriate and adequately personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as free transportation for all frontline workers, especially those in the hospitals providing yeoman service. Also, the bloc calls for the extension of the deadline for submission of income and other tax returns.
“We urge again wide scale testing, starting with the most likely to be exposed. We see this as a means to get a better handle of the situation and thus be able to overcome the crisis in a shorter period. This approach, we are aware has been pursued elsewhere with great success and should be an essential component of our national response. We also urge too that the tests results be known to medical professionals as soon as they are available. This, we believe, will prevent a lag in treatment which could be critical in saving lives,” FITUG said.
