By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) –On May 6, Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas promised there would be an increase in the minimum wage. That hasn’t happened, but the PM recently said the issue may be settled in the coming weeks.
The Prime Minister made this promise in light of global inflation that has seen rising prices in food and fuel.
The minimum wage stands at EC$6.25 per hour for unskilled workers and EC$7.50 per hour for semi-skilled workers. It was legislated in 2004.
At his monthly press conference on August 27, the Prime Minister said that there were a number of new developments recently with regard to the discussions on the minimum wage.
“I wish to announce that the Minister of Finance have had consultations with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) as one way of seeking advice on the potential increase of the minimum wage so that it is at a level that will not create problems with regard to inflation,” the Prime Minister said.
The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee is expected to meet by August 31 in order to finalize its own recommendations, he said.
He said that the time frame given by the Commissioner of Labor to achieve conclusion on the matter was a realistic goal and that by the middle of August to the end of August an announcement would be made with respect to this.
“Although as I said before there is a level that is already being negotiated, we want to make sure that the minimum wage would not in any way become unproductive vis-a –vis inflation in this country,” Dr. Douglas said.
The Advisory Committee is expected to meet shortly and to submit to the Minister of Labor by Sept. 2 its findings and hopefully give time to the employers so that the necessary adjustments can be made to the benefit of the employees, he said.
