Thursday, January 21, 2016

NEW minimum wage rates were approved for lowly paid Jamaican workers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday after a noisy showdown between Government and Opposition members of Parliament (MPs) over the level of increases.

New Minister of Labour and Social Security Dr Fenton Ferguson apologised for the low increases, pointing out that employers who can pay more should do so.

“As a Government, we have taken into consideration the lived experiences of those at the lower level of the society, which explains why the proposed adjustment to the national minimum wage constitutes a 10.71 per cent increase, while the increase in the minimum wage for industrial security guards constitutes an increase of eight per cent from the previous rates established in January 2014,” Ferguson explained.

Noting that the proposed increases are to become effective on March 1, Ferguson announced that: the national minimum wage will be increased from $5,600.00 per 40-hour work week, or $140.00 per hour, to $6,200.00 per 40-hour work week, or $155.00 per hour.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/House-approves–600-per-week-minimum-wage-increase_49214