Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 5, 2020 (ZIZ News): Minister of Labour, The Hon. Vance Amory says as workers prepare to enter a world of work post Covid-19 there are some issues that must be tackled and viewpoints that should change for the future.
In an interview with ZIZ News Minister Amory said if there’s one thing that we have learned from Covid-19 it’s that greater attention should be paid to our health and he encouraged workers to be more proactive in that regard.
“Each worker, whether at their own expense or if their employers offer medical assistance or medical support, should get periodic health checks to make sure that their health is in order,” he said. “And don’t wait until they feel sick. I think too many times workers only seek advice or the input of their physician when they feel sick. I would like to support that they have periodic physical checks, medical checks to ensure that they are in good health.”
He also suggested workers getting their own health insurance if coverage isn’t provided at their job, to protect them and their children.
Minister Amory also encouraged workers to change their spending and saving habits and prepare for a time when extra funds would be necessary.
“Workers should seek to save some of what they earn,” he said. “It might not be a lot but if one develops a habit of not spending everything which one gets but putting aside some for a rainy day, for an emergency…and that they begin now to look at re-positioning and looking at how they spend, on what they spend, and see to spend on things that are necessary.”
He urged workers to not overextend themselves when it comes to spending and “cut their garments to suit their cloth”, as a means of providing a form of financial security for them and their families in the future.