A call for a sick-out today to protest planned changes to the national pension scheme appears to have had little impact in the private or public sectors.

A group of social, political and trade union activists has  been urging workers to call in sick today in protest at government’s plans to eventually increase by a year the age for pension and to also increase the number of years a person will have to make contributions for before qualifying for pension.

Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Tricia Tannis, tells Starcom Network News, that based on their checks with businesses the call appears not to have triggered any significant response.

Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Tricia Tannis

President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, James Clarke, tells Starcom Network News that the Chamber expected no major response to the sick out call among business sector employees and there is no evidence of people staying away from work.

President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, James Clarke

General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers, Richard Greene, makes it clear his organisation was never involved in the call for a sick out and their members have not taken part in any action.

General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers, Richard Greene

Meantime, General Secretary of the Unity Workers Union, Caswell Franklyn, one of the key players in the call for a sick out, was not clear of the response to their appeal and admitted that even he was busy working as he was representing a member.

General Secretary of the Unity Workers Union, Caswell Franklyn

The group of activists behind the call for a national sick had threatened further protest action if the Senate today approved the proposed pension changes.

But when the Upper Chamber convened this morning, the National Insurance and Social Security Bill was tabled and then the sitting was adjourned until next week.

Leader of government business Senator Lisa Cummings offered an explanation.

Starcom Network News understands that instead of debating the bill today the Senators were getting a previously scheduled briefing from the National Insurance Scheme consultants.