Minister of Labour and Social Security Karl Samuda says Cabinet has approved an increase in Jamaica’s minimum wage for regular workers from J$7,000 to $9,000 per 40-hour work week.

Samuda, speaking at a virtual press conference on Tuesday (February 22), further indicated that the base salary for security guards has also increased from J$9,700 to $10,500 per 40-hour work week.

The new rates will take effect as of Friday, April 1, 2022.

For the ‘regular’ minimum wage and security guards, the rate increase is a 28.5 and 8.24 per cent respective jump in salaries.

“The National Minimum Wage Advisory Commission submitted their report, quite frankly, as far back as 2020. At that time, Jamaica was at the stage where the pandemic had set in and we were losing thousands of jobs because of the challenges it posed,” Samuda said.

“The decision was taken then, that in the face of all those challenges, it would be best to give us a chance to take the necessary action in order to get the [Jamaican] labour market back on stream,” the minister added.

Samuda, in his remarks, indicated that despite the announcement, Jamaica is “almost there” in its labour force recovery.

He thanked the entities with which the Government conducted consultations in arriving at the new minimum wage figure, namely the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ); Jamaica Security Guards’ Association; Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF); Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU); Jamaica Society for Industrial Security; Jamaica Household Workers’ Union; Bureau of Gender Affairs; Sugar Producers Federation of Jamaica; Jamaica Gasoline Retailers Association (JGRA); Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees; and Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).

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