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With wage increases for some public sector workers now seemingly unlikely in the new fiscal year, Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Kingston Ronnie Thwaites is calling for Parliamentarians to lead the way with a freeze on their own salaries.
The Government has put forward several proposals to curb its wage expenses as it grapples with its ballooning billion dollar salary bill.
These include public sector workers agreeing to a freeze on wages and foregoing yearly salary increases.
And with workers being asked to consider a wage freeze, there have been calls for Members of Parliament to do the same.
Mr. Thwaites says the moral thing for MPs to do is also agree to a wage freeze.
"The tasks of being a Member of Parliament are one of the most exacting and expensive task that I've experienced, but you're asking the public to hold strain, then there is no basis on which to exact an increase," said Mr. Thwaites who was speaking Sunday on RJR's weekly news review programme, "That's a Rap".
In the meantime, Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and MP for Western St. Thomas James Robertson also supports the call.
"What is good for the goose is good for the gander ... you can't have double standards. We have a crisis, it's not a Jamaica crisis, it's a world crisis and a lot of sacrifices will have to be made," said Mr. Roberston who added that there is a sliver lining on the horizon.
"From where I sit as Minister responsible for planning and development, there is a lot of interest in several projects for development in Jamaica and there is a lot of investment what will take place. The climate is not right at this time but we continue to work at them and they will materialize," Mr. Robertson said.
Will affect all - Nelson
And the Cabinet Minister in charge of the public service, who is also leading the talks involving Government workers and their unions, Senator Dwight Nelson, says any potential wage freeze would affect all categories of public sector workers.
"The intent of the Government's discussions with the unions pursuant to having a freeze on increases to public sector workers as of April 1 2099, is not only for it apply to civil servants but to any public sector employee ... whether you are an MP, Parish Councillor, whomever you are, that freeze would affect you," said Mr. Nelson.
He said trade union officials are to continue talks with workers on the Government's proposed job saving measures.
The Government has put forward several proposals to curb its wage expenses as it grapples with its ballooning billion dollar salary bill.
These include public sector workers agreeing to a freeze on wages and foregoing yearly salary increases.
And with workers being asked to consider a wage freeze, there have been calls for Members of Parliament to do the same.
Mr. Thwaites says the moral thing for MPs to do is also agree to a wage freeze.
"The tasks of being a Member of Parliament are one of the most exacting and expensive task that I've experienced, but you're asking the public to hold strain, then there is no basis on which to exact an increase," said Mr. Thwaites who was speaking Sunday on RJR's weekly news review programme, "That's a Rap".
In the meantime, Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and MP for Western St. Thomas James Robertson also supports the call.
"What is good for the goose is good for the gander ... you can't have double standards. We have a crisis, it's not a Jamaica crisis, it's a world crisis and a lot of sacrifices will have to be made," said Mr. Roberston who added that there is a sliver lining on the horizon.
"From where I sit as Minister responsible for planning and development, there is a lot of interest in several projects for development in Jamaica and there is a lot of investment what will take place. The climate is not right at this time but we continue to work at them and they will materialize," Mr. Robertson said.
Will affect all - Nelson
And the Cabinet Minister in charge of the public service, who is also leading the talks involving Government workers and their unions, Senator Dwight Nelson, says any potential wage freeze would affect all categories of public sector workers.
"The intent of the Government's discussions with the unions pursuant to having a freeze on increases to public sector workers as of April 1 2099, is not only for it apply to civil servants but to any public sector employee ... whether you are an MP, Parish Councillor, whomever you are, that freeze would affect you," said Mr. Nelson.
He said trade union officials are to continue talks with workers on the Government's proposed job saving measures.