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So now with 1 out of every 5 persons being below the poverty line, instead
of announcing a credible plan for investment, growth, job creation and
growth in personal and family incomes, the Minister of Finance has proudly
announced that he will have a new Poverty Reduction Programme by the
end of FY2015/16.
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At present many businesses are unable to meet their payroll each week. As
a result, many persons are going home on Fridays without pay. The
following week the first sale received is split between the workers and it
goes on until they all receive their salary. Sometimes two weeks or more
salary is owed to staff. Sales are sometimes just enough to pay salary, light
bill and sometimes telephone bills. Telephones are sometimes
disconnected.
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At present professionals are also suffering. They too are unable to pay
their bills, lawyers, doctors, chartered accountants etc. If professionals are
suffering like this, people at the bottom must be suffering unspeakable.
Many of them depend on the professionals to employ them. These include
the helpers, gardeners, plumbers, etc.
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The government and some of the large companies are purchasing but not
paying. They purchase from the smaller companies or employ – the
electrician, carpenter and take 120 days or more to pay them. This has
caused the economy to be at a standstill. They cannot get pay; hence, they
cannot pay who assisted them. At the end of the week no grocery, no
lunch money for their children, no rent etc. The government and some
large companies are taking interest free loans from the smaller man, by not
paying bills on time.
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Meantime, many workers are resorting to taking out multiple loans with
micro-finance companies and now find that they can’t keep up with the
payments and put food on the table at home.