B.C.C.I. Continues Call for Phased Approach to Implementation of $5 Minimum Wage

Marcelo Blake

During the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech, he noted that the five dollar minimum wage will be implemented in January 2023. But, do the next three months give the Minimum Wage Task Force enough time to conclude its process? That is what we asked the President of B.C.C.I.

Marcelo Blake, President, B.C.C.I.

“Once that is completed there should be a review with the task force of the overall findings before the report is submitted to the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Labor and all the other things that come behind that Ministry’s name.”

Paul Lopez

“Do you imagine, as the Prime Minister announced on Independence Day, that this in fact will be ready and implemented for January 2023?”

Marcelo Blake

“I am hoping that was just a part of the usual political spiel and that in fact the government will allow for the process to be completed by the task force before that is actually rolled out.”

Paul Lopez

“January does not seem like enough time, three months from now, for that to happen?”

Marcelo Blake

“It all depends on how it is rolled out. At the end of the day, we have been advocating for a phased approach with a formula and if that is the approach that is taken then I think it can work, but the jump from a five dollars directly to a three thirty is where there is going to be quite a bit of hesitation from the business community.”