Workers in the horticulture sub-sector have been awarded a five percent wage increase with effect from this month, a Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) official has said.
Marc Carrie-Wilson, the CFU deputy director said that an agreement was reached after protracted negotiations between employers and trade unions overseen by the National Employment Council (NEC) early this month.
“The initial position of the employers was that in light of the very bad state of the economy generally and the poor viability of horticultural production in particular, there was no room to offer any increase,” he said.
“The employees through their trade unions on the other hand presented an eloquent paper demanding an increase to a minimum (monthly) wage of $100. However they made it clear from the outset that they were open to negotiations.”
A minimum wage of $82 was eventually agreed on, from $78. The highest paid employee in the sub-sector will now earn $162, from $154.- The Source
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