Pre-Budget Consultations - Bad Weather Allowance: Fishermen's Associations Demand Rs 1,200

The pre-budget consultations resumed on Monday, May 4. Following an initial series of discussions with the private sector last Saturday, Junior Minister of Finance Dhaneshwar Damry met this morning with representatives from the fishermen's associations. They unanimously demand a revision of the Bad Weather Allowance to Rs 1,200, up from the current Rs 800, which they consider insufficient.

"The amount of Rs 800 for the Bad Weather Allowance is not enough. We are requesting it to be increased to at least Rs 1,200," stated a representative from a fishing cooperative in the eastern region of the island. Another request made was for a subsidy on diesel for semi-industrial fishing boats.

A representative from the Roches-Noires Fishermen's Association also called for training for industry players. You can find their other demands in the attached video.