Power and Flexibility

My objection to Living Wage and Minimum Wage is the opposite of believing people shouldn’t have sufficient money to, at a minimum, survive. I believe in a world where we vote not just at the ballot box, but with our feet and our wallets. Real time. I believe in the Four Freedoms – Capital, Goods, Services, and Labour. My objection to Living/Minimum Wage is that it puts the burden on employers and small businesses, and makes the calculations of whether to create job opportunities favour machines. It also creates a dependency between the worker and work giver (even and particularly if there are wage subsidies). A Basic Income increases the negotiating power and flexibility of both parties. It empowers from the bottom, but leaves both the worker and the employer with power in their feet and wallets. The ability to say Yes. The ability to say No. The ability to create.

Freedom of Movement

Fair Pay (Christie)

Sindile shared an interesting blogpost to which Christie replied. I asked if I could share her comment... 

I have read 'A day in the life of a Camp's Bay maid' before - a few years ago perhaps?

'A Day in the Life of a Camp's Bay Maid'

Obviously it's easy to get angry with the "madam" of the story but I think it's an opportunity to consider the people that we employ to work in our homes and to look after our children - and ask how we dehumanise - not only with finances - but also through working conditions 

There is much to be said about paying a living wage (R6,000- R8,000/ month for full depending on where you look for info) but also some other things to consider: 

• Having a contract which stipulates hours of work, tasks involved, leave, sick leave, etc (there are templates on DoL sites)
• Sit down and discuss the terms with your employee. Ask yourself if the terms are fair. E.g. Paid leave for 22 days, 13th cheque 
• Provide safety equipment (remember you are an employer) e.g. Gloves, clothes in which the person can clean (this is also a whole separate discussion - a uniform that is comfortable may differ from person to person)
• If you can't afford a living wage for full time employment, consider reducing hours of service - this can free the employee to find other work on their free days or hours i.e. Reduced hours for the same pay = higher rate/hour
• Have open discussions and find out about their family and needs - who lives at home with them, who looks after their children etc and try to find ways to support and empower

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Christie and I also had a chat about 'Surviving' being a parent