Minimum wage increase postponed!
The Ministry of Financial Services has announced the postponement of the minimum wage increase initially set to take effect on November 30, citing an undisclosed policy matter as the reason.
In a statement, the ministry indicated that a revised implementation date will be announced in the first quarter of 2025. Efforts to reach Premier Natalio Wheatley, who now holds the portfolio for Financial Services, have been unsuccessful.
The minimum wage increase, announced in July under then-Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services and Labour Lorna Smith, was set to raise the hourly rate from $6 to $8.50. This change would have increased fortnightly earnings for minimum wage workers from $480 to $680 for a standard 40-hour workweek, providing an additional $200 every two weeks.
While employees widely supported the increase, citing the rising cost of living, some expressed concerns about its potential impact on the cost of goods. Small business owners also raised issues about their ability to sustain operations under the new wage structure.
The increase was based on recommendations from a 2023 Social Assistance report, which highlighted the need to address wage stagnation in the territory. Further updates on the revised timeline are expected in early 2025.
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some of these people working for scraps i dont blame them for how they pack up in people apartments to make things easier like heck
The report suggested it be higher. And so it should.
Find the 20 million
Stop playing stupit political games with the people of this country
Work for the country
Not supporters of yiur party and friends
Enough is enough . Look at what the BVI coming too
Look at the roads in East End and aroynd this country when will this end??
What heartlessness and evil!!
And the cost of living done rise significantly due to the expectations of this. Hope when they do actually implement they make measures to ensure that the powers don’t increase cost a second time
They can do this because so many tax payers here don’t have the vote. There is no accountability, and see where it has got us.
It’s really ironic to have this announced after all the self congratulation over the Great March!
What hypocrisy caused by economic mismanagement and corruption. No wonder we don’t want independence. Can you imagine? It’s already getting like Haiti…
People, next election we have to vote for Cindy, put personal feelings aside, she is the only one with the courage, the Tiger in hee to stand up to these Lions in our Jungle..
VIP is not a people’s party, it’s the party of big business and elites. Now it’s clear.
This is a scandal. What do they mean “as a matter of policy”? That is no explanation.
Minimum wage of $6 an hour is ridiculous given the cost of living and any employer paying this should be ashamed.
Would not be surprised if this u-turn/delay is because of political lobbying from some big connected employers (e.g. hotels and supermarkets) who do not want to pay their workforce of largely expat staff a living wage.
Oh, and nice to see the Premier defending his own massive pay increase in the same news cycle.
What a travesty! Imagine due to the impending increase, a lot of businesses and landlords have already increased the cost of their services, goods and apartments. Now we are left to wonder if they will decrease their prices after this latest notice from the Government. Perhaps, we would be better able to take care of ourselves if the tax exemption was increased to $20K. This Government always putting the cart to haul the horse instead of the other way around. What happen nobody thinking or is it nobody has the balls to call out their colleague when there’s a faux paux? I’ll leave this here for now. May God help us all and may he continue to bless these Virgin Islands and all who make it their home. Peace & love, everyone!
Im holding my breath because I like the premier but man I dont know what he is doing for the people. He lost his way or maybe we didnt know him that well to begin with. Charm is dangerous. Cutting out Lorna really spoke volumes to his moral and decision making compass. Wage up in the air.
If you were doing good a vote of no confidence can only make you stronger when you win. But no he chose to be ruthless and cut her out. I don’t care for her but that shows how he operates.
The person who helped him form a stable party he cut.