By Lesroy W. Williams Observer Reporter
” (Basseterre, St. Kitts)”The consultation process on the minimum wage increase between stakeholders in the private sector and the government is nearing completion, Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has said. Speaking at a press conference on October 2 to brief the country on certain matters pertaining to finances, the cost of living and consumer goods, the Finance Minister said that the government has sought to engage all stakeholder groups in the minimum wage discussion in order to arrive at consensus. “If it were not for the wish of the government to bring as many stakeholder groups on board, time could have been saved in advancing this (minimum wage increase) but we want cooperation, we want a sense of consensus, we want a sense of accountability in terms of being able to hear what the concerns of the other side are,” Dr. Harris said. “If this thing could have been more quickly, it would have been done because this government wants all workers both in the public and private sector to be treated fairly and equitably. We started this discussion some time ago and in fact if recommendations had been more forthcoming perhaps the exercise would have ended earlier,” he said. However, in the not too distant future, the matter will be finally determined and there will be a revision upwards in the minimum wage and the general public will be informed of the magnitude of the increase within a week or two, Mr. Harris said.” The announcement to increase the minimum wage was first made to the Federation by the prime minister on May 6 of this year. Dr. Harris said that the government intervened in the effort to increase the minimum wage within the private sector because of the rising cost of food and energy brought about by external factors. “In terms of employment, we don’t foresee any negative fallout (with the minimum wage increase) because it would not be the first time that we have had wage adjustment,” Dr. Harris said. “By and large, what the adjustment in the minimum wage is intended to do is to ensure that those who are laboring enjoy a decent and respectable remuneration at the end of the day,” he said. “A happier worker is more likely to be a more productive worker.” The private sector has been very understanding of the reality in the domestic market place that the cost of living has moved and there is consensus among all sectors involved in the consultation process that there should be an upward movement in the minimum wage, Dr. Harris said. “The magnitude of that movement is for Cabinet to finally make a determination but all stakeholder groups have given an input and all of them have given an indication that they think that it should be upwards,” he said.
