Minimum wage to increase in three days

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A promise made by the Federation’s leader, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas earlier this year will be fulfilled in three days following the announcement of a 28% increase in minimum wage.

According to a communiqué issued by the Ministry of Labour, the long-awaited increase of the minimum wage has been approved by Cabinet and is to take effect as of November 1, 2008.

Douglas said during his Labour Day speech that an increase in the minimum wage was necessary to protect the ordinary workers. He declared that the then Minister of Labour Hon. Dwyer Astaphan would consult with the relevant stakeholders with the view to “increase the minimum wages so that industrial site workers and others can better cope with the rising cost of living”.

On June 5, the preliminary steps for the change saw broad-base discussions from which the views of the involved stakeholders were elicited, a measure stipulated by the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

~~Adz:Right~~In keeping with the Labour Minimum Wage Act   CAP 344, a National Advisory Committee was established and was charged to periodically review the minimum wage received in St. Kitts-Nevis. Recommendations emanating from the advisory body were handed over to the Minister of Labour and subsequently discussed in Cabinet.

Cabinet, upon review of the Committee's recommendations, agreed that the minimum wage be set at $8.00 per hour/$320.00 per 40 hour work week and is to cover all occupations and sectors, including industrial work, construction and privately owned businesses. The previous wage base was set at EC$ 6.25 per hour, a total of $250 per 40-hour working week.

According to the release, the decision was made in keeping with the government’s mandate to protect and promote the social and economic welfare of the citizens after acknowledging the impacts of the rising cost of food and services.