GOVERNMENT’S COVID19 ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE: 3 LOCK-DOWN ASSISTANCE

A lump sum assistance of $500 through FNPF will be provided to employees who are affected by the lock-down/travel restriction due to COVID-19. This is only available to employees who are not able to go to work or are not able to work from home (thus not paid by employers). Those who have less than $500 in their General Account, the balance will be subsidized by Government.

For those affected in the informal sector in the lock down areas, Government will provide a relief payment of $150.

[For those who may not know, the Informal sector is defined as employed persons not making contributions to the FNPF]

The above measures were announced 10 days ago when the budget was announced.

But here is what was announced yesterday Sunday 5th April: -

If you are a casual worker or garment factory worker and do not have work because of the lock-down, the FNPF has assistance for you. Also, for taxi drivers, minibus operators, bouncers at nightclubs or bartenders Even self-employed people and your business is affected, FNPF can assist you. Sadly, no mention of house maids, babysitters, caregivers, entertainers.

But here is the thing, according to Sec 26 (1) of the 2013 constitution every citizen has a Right EQUALITY and FREEDOM from DISCRIMINATION it goes on to state in (3) that: -A person must not be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly on the grounds of his or her—

1. (a) actual or supposed personal characteristics or circumstances, including race, culture, ethnic or social origin, color, place of origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, birth, primary language, economic or social or health status, disability, age, religion, conscience, marital status or pregnancy; and

2. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, any law inconsistent with this Constitution is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.

In other words paying one group of unemployed workers $500 because they are unemployed due to the impact of the worldwide pandemic and $150 to another group of workers who are unemployed for the exact same reason is ‘discrimination’ and it’s against the law.

When a informal employee goes into a supermarket to buy groceries with the $150, he gets as support, the prices do not drop by 70%, no sir he pays exactly the same price for his goods as the worker from the ‘formal’ sector who are given $500 for suffering the same fate.

They both have to pay $9.95 for a 500-gram pack of butter or $4.95 for Colgate or $1.67 for breakfast crackers. There is no special price for the informal sector worker, the only difference will be reflected in thier change!

The formal sector employee gets $483.43 back in cash while the informal employee gets back $133.45 and they both bought the same items and suffer the same reason for being unemployed. How is this fair or just or ok?

What kind of equality is this? There should be one amount and $500 is what it should be!