By Lesroy W. Williams

Observer Reporter

(Basseterre, St. Kitts)—The minimum wage for private sector workers will be increased shortly, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas announced.

The Prime Minister’s remarks were made at the opening ceremony of the Office of Petroleo de Venezuela St. Kitts-Nevis Limited, located at the corner of Church and Central Street, Basseterre, on September 10.

The announcement to increase the minimum wage was first made to the Federation by the prime minister on May 6 of this year.

The minimum wage stands at EC$6.25 per hour for unskilled workers and EC$7.50 per hour for semi-skilled workers.

“I wish to emphasize that we have been working very hard with our private sector to ensure that those who are working in the private sector would also have an increase in their basic wage so that they too can be assisted in meeting the escalating cost of living,” Dr. Douglas said.

He said that by Monday, September 15, cabinet should have had a full decision on the increase in the minimum wage.

“We believe that what we shall give should be acceptable to all. I hope that the private sector people are listening so that they can begin to prepare because we would want to have this paid by the end of September this year,” Dr. Douglas said.

On August 27 of this year, the Prime Minister said that the Minister of Finance had consultations with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank as one way of seeking advice on the increase in the minimum wage so that it will be at a level so as not to create problems with regard to inflation.