Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) — As a final report with recommendations from a 27-person National Advisory Committee on Minimum Wage is being prepared to be sent to Minister of Labour, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, St. Kitts and Nevis leads the OECS with the highest minimum wage.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minimum Wage is presently$8.00 per hour or EC$320 per week, while other OECS nations minimum wage is between EC$4.05 per hour and EC$7.51 per hour.
Information obtained from the local Department of Labour indicates that the minimum wage in the other OECS countries are as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, EC$7.51 (EC$300.40 per week); Grenada, EC$6.00 (EC$240.00 weekly); St. Lucia, EC$5.00 per hour (EC$200.00 per week); St. Vincent and the Grenadines, EC$4.46 per hour (EC$178.40 per week); Dominica, EC$4.05 per hour (EC$162.00 per week).
It is interesting to note that Barbados’ minimum wage is EC$8.45 per day (EC$338.04 per week) and in Belize, EC$4.46 per day (EC$162.00 per week).
Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Spencer Amory said Minister Nisbett hosted a National Consultation with key stakeholders on 7thAugust 2014 at the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
He disclosed that the Committee met on 19th August, 21st August 2014, 26th August 2014 and 28th August 2014.