The minimum wage in Barbados should increase to $8.50 an hour – or $340 a week – by April 1, says Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations Colin Jordan.
But Government backbencher Toni Moore, who is general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, says that wage cannot adequately meet the survival needs of workers at the bottom of the ladder.
The minimum wage issue was raised by Moore and Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley while Jordan and officials of his ministry were fielding questions from parliamentarians during yesterday’s Estimates Debate in the House of Assembly.
The ministry has been allocated $7.2 million in the 2021-2022 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
In replying to Atherley’s request for an update on the status of the minimum wage discussion, Jordan said the proposed Minimum Wage Order was being circulated for public feedback. He added that the minimum 40-day period required for circulation of the proposal would end in a few days, and the order would have to go through other processes before being finally approved by Cabinet, before going into effect from April 1. (GC)
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