by Linda Straker
- Wages Advisory Committee to review work in minimum wage schedule at least once every 3 years
- Minimum livable wage for private and public sector workers from 1 January 2024
- 14 categories of workers were last reviewed in 2011
On 1 January 2024, Grenada will commence a method of compensation to workers both in the private and public sectors that will see the end of disparity in salary based on gender and at the same time enforce a minimum livable wage.
“As most of us will know, we have a disparity between male and female workers in certain sectors, particularly the agriculture sector, and the recommendation is that it should be a thing of the past as we move towards greater equality among our workers,” Labour Minister Hon. Claudette Joseph told journalists during a news conference earlier this week.
In June 2022, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected to administer the affairs of the country and within 3 months, a committee was established in accordance with Section 51 of the 1999 Employment Act to review minimum wages in both the public and private sectors.
The law mandates that there should be a review of work that falls in the minimum wage schedule by the Wages Advisory Committee at least once every 3 years with a view to updating the minimum rate of wages. The law which covers 14 categories of workers was last reviewed in 2011.
Joseph said that the findings and recommendations have been presented to the cabinet of Ministers and it was agreed among them that there should be a second and final round of consultations before the enforcement of the recommendations.
Among the recommendations from the committee which is chaired by Dr Curlan Gilchrist is an increase in wages for all categories; include news categories of workers to the minimum wage schedule and introduce a livable minimum wage of EC$60 per day.
“With the agreement of Cabinet, the Committee has embarked on a second round of consultation having made its recommendations to Cabinet with the intent that these recommendations will come into effect on 1 January 2024. Some of the highlights coming out of the final report are deviations from the current minimum wage structure and includes a recommendation to equalize the minimum wage across gender,” Joseph said.
If majority of men work in high paying fields then they will be paid better than the majority of women, who are working in lesser paying jobs. Should a male pilot be paid the same salary as a female cashier?
I hope the people in charge read the many case studies about incorrectly raising the minimum and its negative effects on the population(employers may simply raise the price on the shelf to compensate). If done incorrectly this may end up causing artificial inflation and reduced hiring, in an era where the cost of everything is already high.
Implement it properly is my only request
What next you will try and get a shorter working day/week.
I am all in favour of an honest day pay for a honest day work….but that is not the case here expecially for those employed by the state.
A few of you will disagree with that statement but you know the truth which will set you free.