During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Barbados government backbencher Toni Moore delivered a critical assessment of the nation’s public service compensation system, acknowledging governmental progress while highlighting persistent administrative failures affecting contracted workers. The St George North MP, who also serves as general secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, characterized these issues as creating widespread discontent within the public sector.
Moore recognized the current administration’s advancements compared to what she described as “nine years of zero movement” under previous leadership. However, she emphasized that fundamental problems continue to plague the system, particularly regarding delayed payments for acting positions, temporary appointments, and other entitled compensations.
The parliamentarian illustrated the systemic nature of these failures by recounting specific instances where contractual employees experienced payment disruptions due to inter-ministerial oversights. “These are situations that are not acceptable,” Moore stated, “and they are situations in which the people who are responsible should be held accountable.”
Moore joined opposition leader Ralph Thorne in criticizing the excessive reliance on contractual arrangements for positions that clearly require permanent staffing. She referenced approximately 720 workers who have remained on service contracts for over five years despite performing essential ongoing functions. This practice, initially justified during Barbados’ IMF program, now requires urgent reconsideration according to the MP.
The legislator detailed how this contractual instability creates cascading consequences, denying workers job security, access to credit facilities, and proper national insurance coverage. She particularly emphasized how financial institutions hesitate to extend loans to workers without guaranteed income streams, creating additional financial hardships during periods like Christmas.
Moore further warned that these practices undermine the sustainability of Barbados’ National Insurance system, potentially jeopardizing retirement security for thousands of workers. She questioned how the system could remain viable while excluding contractual workers from proper coverage.
The MP concluded by expressing hope for prompt resolution of these issues, emphasizing that the current situation fails both workers and the national interest.