
The GFSB notes the measures in the budget and understands that these come in the context of trying times. The Federation would have preferred and had requested, for the minimum wage increase to be postponed for at least a year and for no increases to be made to the cost of utilities.
Aside from these matters, the Federation does not have any significant concerns with the measures in the budget and welcomes the employment and capital tax allowances announced.
However, it does feel that these measures are overshadowed by the large increases that were made to social insurance prior to the budget, which imposes significant additional costs on its members.