Agence Haitïenne de Presse - Translation by HaitiAnalysis.com

The political militant of Fanmi Lavalas, Byron Odigé, declared on Wednesday that the sector of Private Affairs has never been interested in an increase of the minimum wage for Haiti workers.

Mr. Odigé reported that the meeting scheduled Thursday on this matter with the chambers of commerce and associations of the country will not give birth to anything positive.

And to justify these declarations, he recalled that when president Jean-Bertrand Aristide brought the minimum wage to 36 Gourdes, businessmen then proceeded to the revocation of 50% of their employees in retaliation, explained Mr. Odigé.

And the same sector yet had to demonstrate its hostility in 2003, under the second presidency of Aristide when he brought it to 70 Gourdes, again indicated Byron Odigé.

He calls on governmental authorities and the parliament to work tirelessly towards the increase of the minimum wage, frozen at 70 Gourdes.

In his speech to the nation on Monday, on the occasion of the reopening of parliamentary sessions, President Préval had called for an increase of the minimum wage. The president of the Chamber of Commerce and of Industry of Haiti, Jean Robert Argant, announced on Tuesday an important meeting set for January, 17, between the representatives of all national chambers of commerce and Employers organizations, in order to better address the problem.

This is a very delicate question that must be handled with attention, he underlined.