Why are Jamaicans forced to live in poverty? – Jamaica Gleaner

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I took a trip to the grocery store the other day and, admittedly, I had a hard time accepting the increased cost of food. Im sure were all struggling with the same question, how is everything increasing except our pay?

Did you know that the same grocery items cost more in Jamaica, than they do in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Why does food cost more in Jamaica than in any of these countries - twice as much as in the UK? Better yet, how do we continue to afford this?

For a Jamaican earning minimum wage, it costs 25 hours of work to cover the same food bill, compared to the three hours (or less) spent by their counterpart in the UK, USA or Canada. Why is labour worth more within the migration triangle? In Jamaica, is work worth less?

Jamaica has cheap labour. This is something the economists often say, but is this labour cheap or just underpriced? In June 2023, the Government of Jamaica increased the national minimum wage from J$9,000 to J$13,000. This is commendable, considering that the new rate represents a 44 per cent increase the largest in 20 years (JIS, 2023). On the face of it, this is a significant increase, but lets consider that the hourly wage is 10.42 in the United Kingdom, $16.55 in Canada, and as much as $15 in some US states.

Ive spent some time living outside of Jamaica. In that time, Ive observed that, even without all the degrees, years of experience and links, the average Canadian, for instance, can manage to afford food. The federal government enforces a living wage which ensures its people can afford clothes, rent/mortgage, safety, and even a likkle car. On the other hand, most Jamaicans have to move out to move up.

Why does Jamaica place so little value on the work that people do? More must be done to set us up for success.

I recall a campaign for us to Buy Jamaican, but are we now on sale for cheap? Over the years, we have seen a massive influx of BPOs. They create lower paying jobs but a significant number of our people with undergraduate degrees are employed there.

There are people among us who borrow money to cover the cost of getting to work. I wonder how they will make it to December. Yet, on the bright side, at least they have a job.

Are we jogging on the spot? Is this modern-day slavery? We get up and get dressed in unsavoury conditions. Economists explain, because I dont understand, how owners of means measure the worth of a man.

We have a lot of real work to do, as we are all stakeholders in this. Lets start by having the conversations that count. Each of us needs to better understand our worth and how our actions and attitudes can help or hurt our outcomes.

Our leaders can create more strategic linkages between the courses being pursued at the tertiary level and the jobs and industries that have demand. We must create more high-value jobs and careers to match the supply of high-skilled workers being produced.

Jamaica produces quality. We are reminded of this when a student migrates then quickly makes the honour roll, and again when a coworker migrates and swiftly lands a position with a well-established firm. This is how we guard against brain-drain, retain talent we produce, and help to build Jamaica.

Now, more than ever, we must endeavour to create a sustainable ecosystem.

JESSICA WILSON

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Why are Jamaicans forced to live in poverty? - Jamaica Gleaner