The FTA union is backing a progressive Aruba living wage approach while calling for complementary measures to protect workers’ purchasing power, according to a statement carried by 24ora on October 30. Union president and secretary-general Hose Figaroa said a higher nominal wage should lead to a lasting improvement in living standards.
Union calls for a broader policy package
FTA argues that raising the statutory minimum toward the subsistence minimum should be accompanied by appropriate fiscal, economic and social policies. Its suggested options include targeted assistance for businesses facing genuine difficulty absorbing labour costs, action on essential costs and steps to improve productivity.
Prices and employment should be monitored
The union wants periodic evaluation of consumer prices, household purchasing power, employment and economic activity. It describes inflationary pressure as a possible risk, not an inevitable result of higher wages. FTA also says this concern should not be used to justify pay that fails to cover basic needs. The statement does not announce an enacted wage increase or a new legal timetable.
Source: Read the original report.
