Employers exploiting women

THE EDITOR: Hundreds of citizens including Ministers Hazel Manning, Pennelope Beckles, Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Diane Seukeran and Mayor Ian Artherly packed the Auditorium of the San Fernando City Corporation recently to listen to important issues affecting our women. Representatives from various Ministries shared useful information with members of NGOs and CBOs on social service deliveries, community development, education, technology education, agriculture and transport. Many men came to lend their support to the International Women’s Day.

This is a clear indication that a lot of males are now recognising women as equals and are prepared to join with them in bringing to an end all discrimination against females. There are still a lot of women who are treated as second-class citizens. Some are still being paid $25 a day for an 8-hour shift. This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated any longer. The minimum wage law is not being enforced in many instances and as a result many employers are taking advantage of their workers. I wonder if and when this injustice will end.

Women have had to fight a long and hard battle to obtain equality for themselves and their daughters. Although they have achieved much, there are still too many of them who are victims of discrimination. It is not uncommon for employers to dismiss domestic workers and other employees who complain about low wages especially if they are not members of trade unions.

We advise women to continue their struggle for equality and fair play. Discrimination against people based on gender, race, colour or religion is a sin and must be eradicated if we want a better and more progressive society. In closing, I congratulate the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs for their well-organised International Women’s Day ceremony in San Fernando, which highlighted the achievement of women in society.

HARRACK
BALRAMSINGH
La Romaine