Officials confirm increase in minimum wage

The good news for minimum wage workers announced last week was confirmed today as officials explained details of the immediate twenty-five percent increase plus future hikes. In May 2006, a nine member council made up of workers, employers and independent partners was commissioned to review and if necessary revise the minimum wage. After seven months of work, the council presented its findings to government in December. Today, Minister of Labour Francis Fonseca announced that through a new statutory instrument the proposed changes would become law and take effect on April first. Since 2002, manual workers in the agriculture sector and students have been paid a minimum of two dollars an hour while domestic workers and shop assistants are receiving at least two dollars and twenty-five cents per hour. Under the proposed increases, over the next three years, manual workers and students will see a fifty cent increase this year, an additional shilling in 2008 and by twenty ten, be paid three dollars an hour. This year, domestics and shop assistants will benefit from a seventy five cent increase, taking their hourly rate to three dollars. According to the council, the idea is to have one rate for all categories of minimum workers.

Carlos Santos, Chairman, Minimum Wages Council