The Minister for National Security, Home Affairs and Labour, Rayburn Blackmoore, has announced a minimum wage increase for low-level workers from September 1st. The minister said the upgraded wages will protect vulnerable workers from the economic realities of life today. He said the upgraded minimum wage reflects government’s consultation with the Labour Division, the International Labour Organization, the Minimum Wage Advisory Board, and other market stakeholders.
The categories of workers to which the new wage rates apply are;
- Cooks ($7.25 Per Hour)
- Bartenders ($7.24 Per Hour)
- Servers ($7.24 Per Hour)
- Room Attendants ($7.24 Per Hour)
- Groundsmen ($7.24 Per Hour)
- Public Area Assistants ($7.24 Per Hour)
- Vehicle Drivers ($7.50 Per Hour)
- Messengers ($7.50 Per Hour)
- Security Guards ($8 Per Hour)
- Construction Labourers ($7.50 Per Hour)
- Other Unskilled Workers ($7.50 Per Hour)
For specificity, below are some of the increments made to given classes of workers under the new scheme:
- Agricultural sector from $4 per hour to $7.50 per hour
- Daily paid workers and tourism workers from $4.50 per hour to $7.50 per hour
- Juveniles/trainees from $3.60 per hour to $5.67 per hour
- Cashiers and receptionists from $5.50 to $7.25 per hour
- Sales persons from $5.50 per hour to $7.25 per hour
- Shop assistants from $4.50 per hour to $6.75 per hour
- Home assistants with meals from a $125 per week to $200 per week
- Home assistants without meals $143.75 per week to $250 per week
- Live-in home assistance from $142.50 per week to $220 per week
Blackmoore said the new minimum wage underscores the government’s effort to empower its citizens and upgrade their standards of living.
“It is our view therefore that this extension of workers covered by the minimum wage order will ensure better treatment for these categories of workers who were previously among the most vulnerable workers who were not covered by the minimum wage order,” he said.
Rayburn Blackmoore, Minister for National Security and Home Affairs
However, businessman Hubert “Sukie” Watson has condemned the labour minister for what he termed a unilateral decision in stipulating the new wage increase. He said the government’s effort to increase wages is ill-timed since employers of labour across the country are not witnessing any market growth that will enable them to pay the stipulated wages with ease. He said the government has not given any consideration to the abilities of employers and entrepreneurs to pay the wages.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
