Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has tabled in the House of Assembly the Barbados Optional Savings Scheme bill which she says is to help create jobs during a time of record-high unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Mottley told the House the BOSS program allows public servants to opt-in or out of a deferred earnings plan under which up to 25 percent of their net salary will be converted to bonds for up to 18 months. That money is to be used to fund a number of capital projects.

Prime Minister Mottley stressed that the plan is optional.

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But opposition leader Bishop Joseph Atherley insisted BOSS was pay cut by a different name, prompting an interjection by the Prime Minister.