Jamaica: Govt increases national minimum wage to $15000 per week

In a significant development, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced a minimum wage increase for the citizens of Jamaica. He said that the administration recognises that the contribution of minimum wage earners such as household workers, artisans, labourers, store clerks, and security personnel is vital in meeting the national productivity targets.While announcing the development, he remarked, “Minimum Wage Increase as Government Builds a Caring Economy for All Jamaicans.”This significant announcement of an increase in the national minimum wage will come into effect from June 1, 2024, onwards. This latest increase follows a 44 percent rate hike last year, moving the national minimum wage to the highest-ever level for minimum wage earners in Jamaica. According to the information, PM Holness announced that the new minimum wage for a 40-hour work week will now move to fifteen thousand dollars ($15000) per week, up from thirteen thousand dollars ($13000). In addition to this, the minimum wage for industrial security guards will also be increased effective June 1, 2024, from fourteen thousand dollars ($14000) to fifteen thousand dollars per week ($15000). Following the announcement of this huge milestone, the citizens and residents of Jamaica took to Facebook to laud the incumbent government. “Hon. P.M. the working class of our country appreciated the increase. This is better than a raise today and a freeze tomorrow. Keep up the good work, Sir, you and your team. Blessing,” wrote a user named Lorna Clarke-Andrews, while another user said, “Everyone needs a touch of the prime minister.”The Prime Minister of Jamaica is consistently working to enhance the country and its people and has made major developments. Some of the most important advancements are as follows:

• Increased the National Minimum Wage from $5,600 (2015); to $6,200 (2016);to $7000 (2018); to $9000 (2022); to $13,000 (2023) and now to $15,000 (2024) per 40 hours work week.
• Created the Social Pension Programme and increased it by 65%.
• Introduced the HOPE for Children Trust Fund to ensure every Jamaican child can get a financial start on reaching adulthood to break the cycle of generational poverty.
• Removed the guarantor requirement for student loans and have allocated $200 million to help over 1,000 students with tertiary education fees.
• Removed fees from HEART and created the LIFT Programme, and now the CARE programme ( providing trainees with job placements, stipends, grants, driving lessons, etc)
• Built a record number of low-income houses through the NHT, increased the loan amounts while decreasing interest rates and created the Social Housing Programme, under which over 200 houses have been built.
• Allocated $20 billion under the SPARK programme to focus on community roads.
• Allocated $11.5 billion dollars in the budget to build or upgrade four hospitals at the same time, which never happened before in Jamaica.
• Allocated $1.9 billion to continue the construction of classrooms and sanitary facilities, electrical upgrading, installation of sewage treatment facilities and installation of security fencing at numerous schools.
• The Government has not imposed any new taxes on the people of Jamaica for nine(9) consecutive budgets.