COVID hardship - Standard of living has fallen, say majority of Jamaicans

More than 50 per cent of Jamaicans say that their standard of living has been adversely affected since the onset of COVID-19 in March.

A survey carried out by Don Anderson, executive chairman of Market Research Services Limited, revealed that 56 per cent of the persons interviewed confirmed that their standard of living has plunged owing to COVID-19.

Anderson and his team interviewed more than 1,050 persons aged 18 years and over between July 15 and 20.

Anderson observed that the dip in the standard of living of a significant number of Jamaicans was not surprising taking into account job losses through layoffs, reduction in working hours, lower take-home pay, closure of businesses, and a general slowing down in economic activity.

However, 37 per cent of those surveyed say they have not seen or experienced any fall in their standard of living.

At the same time, seven per cent of respondents claim that their standard of living has improved over the period COVID-19 has impacted the country.

DOUBLE WHAMMY

Asked about the impact of back-to-school expenses on those already hit hard by the effects of COVID-19, Anderson said that Jamaicans would face a double whammy in relation to the challenges of reopening school during the pandemic and the financial difficulties facing many at this time.

Helene Davis Whyte, general secretary of the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers, told The Gleaner on Monday that employees she represents in the public sector have not been severely impacted, as they did not lose their jobs.

However, she said that they, too, have felt the impact of rising food prices which would have been blamed on COVID-19 as well as the drought.

She said that their standard of living would have fallen during this period because their income would have to be stretched to purchase more expensive foodstuff.

Davis Whyte said that some public-sector workers negotiated a 24-hour shift with their employers and get three days off. She said that this has helped greatly because they spend less money on transportation.

“Others work from home and save on transportation costs as well,” she said, adding that increased electricity costs would have been offset by the savings on transportation.

FUNDS NOT ENOUGH

However, wearing her hat as the president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Davis Whyte said she has received information from members across the private sector.

She noted that many have been laid off, with some accessing the Government’s CARE programme. She noted that the sum paid through the CARE programme had been negligible for those who earned at a higher level and had lost their jobs.

“There are persons who tell you that they can’t pay their rent because, if they collect the $4,500, they can barely use it to provide food. It just can’t stretch to rent and mortgage and these things, so those persons, they are in dire circumstances.”

On the question of parents facing expenses related to the reopening of schools in September, Davis Whyte said, “I don’t think they will fare very well. I don’t think they will be able to cope with any kind of back-to-school expense whatsoever.”

“It’s a time when you are not really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel right now, and as the days go by, people are becoming more despondent, and we have to try to find some means by which we can restart the economy safely,” she said.