Options being explored to help displaced workers

Government is giving the assurance that every single option is being explored to help those workers put on the breadline by the COVID-19 pandemic meet financial commitments.

Speaking to members of the media yesterday after a Zoom launch of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s ‘We Care’ initiative, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Kerrie Symmonds highlighted that with the National Insurance Scheme processing over 29,000 unemployment claims currently, a significant challenge was being presented.

He also pointed to the difficulties at this time in sourcing monies for a fund to offset the suffering being felt by those displaced workers from within the aviation industry, which has been effectively grounded due to the pandemic.

The Minister noted that discussions were being held with the financial community to ease debt burdens, some with a degree of success.

“The Prime Minister has created a council looking at jobs and investment and we are also looking at the way we interface with the banking community – which is also represented on the council – and the way in which we could help persons with fixed obligations and loans to repay get a better break.

“There are a number of ways in which the private institutions are prepared to work with Government and also work with the people of Barbados. Right now, we are looking at every single option that is before us and the Council is drawn from a wide cross-section of people deliberately, because it has to be a representative of what is happening in Barbados at all stages and levels of society. It is a matter that is being thought through and worked through and we are really searching across the board for solutions,” he assured.