Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
AS THE debate over minimum wage increases, those most affected have now taken the spotlight - they are household helpers.
At a recent meeting of the Household Workers Association, some of these women spoke out about the hardships they faced in surviving and providing for their families.
With a proposed increase from $2,400 up to $2,800, minimum wage earners say that $3,000 was not an unreasonable demand. Some suggested $3,200, $3,500 up to $4,000. They highlighted the fact that most household workers doubled as parents, homework supervisors, security guards and nurses thus their responsibilities went beyond household duties.
In some cases, live-in helpers do not get the opportunity to be at home with their own children for important family activities. Just last Christmas, one helper known to Flair had to wait till the morning of December 25 to go home to her family. While her boss' preparations were in order, the poor helper arrived home too tired to be merry. The sacrifices are huge.
SIMILAR EXPENSES
It is often forgotten that helpers also have similar expenses such as school fees, bus fares, lunch money, grocery bills, utility bills, rent/mortgage,
savings, clothing and all the other expenses that every Jamaican householder has.
COST CUTTING
The household helpers with whom we spoke shared some of the lengths to which they go to survive on their meagre wages. Some work on weekends, others may operate a stall in the market or on the streets; while yet others incorporate other cost-cutting measures to survive.
TRANSPORTATION
Some helpers have to take two buses to work. With the increase in bus fare that can be as high as $200 each day and $1,000 per week. Some of the workers said that they have resorted to taking one bus and walking the rest of the way.
SHOPPING
They also look for bargains when shopping, from the deals that they say can be found at the back of Coronation Market, to shopping at the wholesale. For example they buy toilet tissue in bulk. This will last for a few months, up to six in some households; then the other week they will buy the large bottle of ketchup. On these and other cost-cutting measures they
barely get by.
Some reveal that after they have paid their rent they don't have dinner but they have a place to sleep. They noted that with their children's education the PATH programme that exists at the Ministry of Education is of no assistance. They said that if you have a television set, refrigerator and other modern amenities then you are not seen as qualified. In households where lunch is not provided, they also take lunch to work which helps with their expenses.
The Household workers Association meets every Wednesday at 4 Ellesmere Rd.
