FITUG demands large-scale testing to contain spread of COVID-19

…calls for tax waivers to help workers cope with woes

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUG) on Monday heavily criticised Government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, specifically its lack of a proactive stance and woefully inadequate testing.
This is in addition to a list of demands aimed at bringing relief to the already struggling domestic workforce including guaranteed income and a waiver of income tax and value-added tax for at least six months.
The workers’ representative body in a strongly worded statement on Monday said it appears there is a lack of leadership when it comes to addressing the crisis and that the President’s seeming hand off approach on the matter of national importance “is concerning and is at variance with his counterparts in the region and further afield. “
According to FITUG, “it is our considered view that those who have responsibility ought to be embracing more proactive and credible steps to meaningfully address the pandemic which has many people fearful at this time.”
It was noted by that body that at the time of preparing this statement, there were eight confirmed cases locally and, “we saw from media reports, that less than a hundred persons have actually being tested though we learnt several hundred test kits are available.”
As such, “we believe this approach is unhelpful if we are serious about staunching the spread of the harmful virus. While attempts have been made to minimise imported cases, there is still an urgent need to grapple with those who have been affected especially given the rapid and the almost unnoticeable spread of the virus.”
FITUG observed that many experts have opined that large scale testing is important “if we are to identify the infected and thus minimise the spread.
Additionally, it was recognised that the crisis already has forced many businesses to curtail their operations and, in other instances, to shut their doors completely with many workers being affected gravely.
“In New Amsterdam, certain businesses have been ordered to shut their doors and in their wake scores of workers have been affected. In other parts of the country, curfews and stay-at-home advisories have been imposed.”
FITUG said that given the dire situation that has faced and is facing many workers who live from pay-day to pay-day, the sudden and unexpected loss of income has only made their bad situations even worse. It was noted that “while some reprieve has come in the form of delayed bill payments and obligations to the financial institutions, these do not fully answer nor do they address holistically the new-found plight of many workers and their families.”
According to FITUG, the State needs to take an involved approach to alleviate the situation of families finding themselves in such a predicament and thus avoid the pitfalls it will bring about.
To this end, FITUG has since issued a list of demands aimed at bringing relief to the already struggling domestic workforce.
Among the demands being made by the workers’ organisation is that no worker suffers any loss in pay during any period they may not be required at work arising from the curtailing or outright closure of workplaces.
According to FITUG, “the State, as the country’s major employer, ensures that all of its employees, whether employed in the public service, semi-autonomous and para-statal agencies, receive their full salaries during the period.”
FITUG has since also proposed that Government works along with Private Sector employers to provide the necessary assistance, whether through fiscal or other measures, to ensure that businesses are able to meet their obligations to their employees.
This is in addition to direct transfers being activated for self-employed and other affected Guyanese who have been rendered out of work arising from the prevailing situation.
Additionally, the union representative body is calling on Government to approve a waiver of income and value-added taxes for at least six months to allow Guyanese to be better able to cope with the increased cost-of-living brought about by the pandemic.
Additionally, FITUG also raised concerns over the level of protection being offered to those who are required to be on the frontlines in addressing the pandemic.
“Just days ago, we saw nurses and others of the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) lamenting the absence of suitable protective wear to prevent them from contracting COVID-19…We also have heard of similar situation unfolding at other health facilities as well.”
On this score, FITUG said, “we hasten to remind the authorities that the Occupational Safety and Health Act require that employers provide their workers with appropriate and suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to mitigate occupational hazards.”