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Advisory Committee recommended Minimum Wage be raised to $9.00- Reports

Information reaching our News Centre is that the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee recommended that the Minimum Wage be increased to $9.00 per hour in the Virgin Islands. Photo: dreamstime.com
The Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), has disclosed that the Minimum Wage increase in the [British] Virgin Islands will be effective November 30, 2024. Photo: GIS/File
The Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), has disclosed that the Minimum Wage increase in the [British] Virgin Islands will be effective November 30, 2024. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Information reaching our News Centre is that the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee recommended that the Minimum Wage be increased to $9.00 per hour.

Cabinet met on July 9, 2024, and approved the Minimum Wage Report but recommended the raising of the Minimum Wage to $8.50 per hour.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), has since disclosed that the Minimum Wage increase in the [British] Virgin Islands will be effective November 30, 2024.

The minimum wage in the Virgin Islands was last increased on October 1, 2016, from $4.00 per hour to $6.00 per hour.

The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee’s Report is expected to be laid in the House of Assembly (HoA) this Tuesday, July 16, 2024, which means it will then become a public document.

It was Hon Smith who had commissioned a Minimum Wage Advisory Committee in November 2023. The committee was coordinated by Dr Dawn T. Alexander-Joseph.

18 Responses to “Advisory Committee recommended Minimum Wage be raised to $9.00- Reports”

  • Lmbo (14/07/2024, 06:51) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    50% increase in one year? Madness! Now we know that this committee was a waste of time and not the right committee for this!
    • voter (14/07/2024, 09:41) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Totally agree!! It was like they were just pulling numbers out of a hat!! Where is the justification for the amount they recommended. The devil is in the details so lets see what analysis was done… half of those jokers probably don’t have to make payroll each week.
  • god knows (14/07/2024, 08:09) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
    They could just round it off to $10 hour for the cost of living in the bvi a small creat food that use to buy for $7 is now $13 it’s ridiculous rent one bedroom is a $1000 an up an your pay check working in a super market can’t do nothing for you lord send help
  • Ronnie.. (14/07/2024, 08:32) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply

    Just talk and Tricks.98% of workers already making $8:50...What we need in addition is an increase in the Tax exemption of an additional $3,000 just for low income owners making $22, 000 annually and under to as a supplement..

  • Amen (14/07/2024, 08:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hallelujah!!!!
  • de silent one (14/07/2024, 09:28) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    This minimun wage raise/increase might be a start in the right direction but more need to be done in order for people to keep pace with the cost of living. As a result of that, there will be an increase in cost of goods and services at the stores in order for businesses to pay staff
  • @ RONNIE (14/07/2024, 11:08) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    WE ALL KNOW BIG DADDY RONNIE , IS ONLY FOCUSING ON HIS RENTAL PROPERTY RENEWAL CONTRACT FIRST / AND EVEN THOUGH THE COI HAS REVEALED A LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATED CORRUPTION HERE , HE HAS THE HEART TO SAY ITS CAUSING RETARDATION , AND NOT WHAT WAS DISCOVERED BY THE COI , THAT TELLS US WHO WE ARE DEALING WITH / AND THE ONE WITH THE SCARECROW HAIR STYLE IS CHASING DOWN THE COI , SO HE IS SOME PLACE ELSE . ( LIKE A GHOST ) IT SURE LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ¹OPPOSITION THE ONE FROM CGB , WHO HAD FLEX OFF ON Dr SMITH WHEN HE WAS IN THE NDP , SEEMS TO HAVE LOST HIS VOICE , AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS OUTSPOKEN , WELL SO MUCH FOR THAT FAKE THOUGHT / WE KNOW NOW IT WAS A POWER MOVE THAT CAUSED THE IMPLOSION AND WHO ORCHESTRATED IT , SO AS CSC SAID " WE GOT FRIGGED "
  • Stealth (14/07/2024, 11:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Undoubtedly, cost of living has and is skyrocketing. It is a challenge and a burden on customers, especially customers at tge bottom of economic ladder; those at the bottom are normally low skill or no skill. The wealthy, middle class and poor pay the same price per item on a basic basket of goods. The increase of the minimum wage is needed to bring some relief to those at the lowest rung on the economic ladder. Nevertheless, there are some repercussions for the economy, individual consumers and businesses, etc. Fistly, the increase may lead to increasing inflation. Secondly, historically, whenever there is a general increase in wages, it is followed by an increase in a basket of goods , other goods, etc. Thirdly, businesses may/will face some operational challenges, which may lead to staff layoff, free new hires, closures.

    Typically, with large raises and other benefits, they are a phased in over time, ie, 2-3 periods, etc., giving business and companies time to adjust to the changes. This change is occurring in the middle of tge fiscal year for most businesses. The approach reflects the inexperience of government.
  • BuzzBvi (14/07/2024, 12:32) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    If a business cannit succeed without paying staff badly it is not really a business. In the past cheap labour was used in these islands to make great profits for some. Businesses can take less profit and pay a living wage. $9.00 or $8.50 is not enough in the VI to live a decent life. More like $20. Much less than the $900 some of the lawyers charge an hour. We need a new business morality and pay people properly or it isnt a business. Business that only maximise profit and not wages are just exploiting peiole.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (14/07/2024, 13:31) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The nine (9.00) dollars suggested minimum wage need to be affordable for both minimum wage employees and employees, if not we still have a big, unfixed problem that needs to be remedied in the BVI political uneven tug-a-war

    Earlier this Century under the NDP Administration, lead by a former Premier, Dr. Orlando D. Smith, employees do not have to pay tax on the first $10,000.00. Minimum wages at that time was far less than ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars. If in fact employers and employees would settle for the $9.00 minimum wages offered, because of fast raising cost of especially basic survival goods, food being Number 1, then I suggest our current government make arrangements to pay businesses ten percent (10%) of minimum wages cost of proven needed goods to these businesses when a credible receipt (proof) is valid and on to government immediately.
    In pressing time like these we can't afford a the continuation of a tug-a-war on the matter. As we live, let others also live. Remember together we stand. God is all knowing, all seeing, all hearing and ultimate judge over all.
    If the business employers the minimum wage employees earners and our government do not accept the above suggestions, I then now would suggest an alternative bellows.

    The minimum wage employees should temporary settle for the $9.00 on condition that as inflation raises minimum wages also will keep pace, but not without a signed letter from government as a guarantee before next general election, better still before Month end.



  • 50 cent (14/07/2024, 14:12) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why take away 50 cent from the people? Why reduce the value you place on your people?

    All for 50 cent, don’t make sense to me. Go with what was recommended, so simple, instead it’s now a nickel and dime game on poor people.
  • lk (14/07/2024, 14:35) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    The beauty about this whole thing thay don't work for $ 8' 50 per hour so thay don't care who swims or who floats simple
  • bvibuzz (14/07/2024, 15:17) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    that is still not enough mehson
  • you watch (14/07/2024, 16:53) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    We thank the vip for looking out for the poor
  • El Demonio Negro (15/07/2024, 08:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Again these MORONS in the voting public putting in affluent rich people to feel empathy for the general public's poverty LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL insanity.
  • Do the math. (15/07/2024, 08:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Increasing min wage from $ 4 to $ 6 dollars an hour is not 50% increase when you factor inflation. $ 4 in 2006 was equivalent to about $ 4.76 in 2016, so about a 26% actual increase, rather than 50% when inflation is not considered. Actually more generous than increasing 2016 min wage to 2024, which works out to an increase of about 8% in today’s economy, partly because inflation increased more between 2016 and 2014 than it did between 2006 and 2016.
  • kishmet (15/07/2024, 11:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ten
  • The Frig….,,. (15/07/2024, 12:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Frig…here. Can someone provide a number as to the number of people in the workforce who are earning less $8.50. Can someone also tell what % of workforce is making $8.50 or greater?? What on average are employers paying employees ? Can anyone with a straight face say that $ 8.50 per hour is a living wage? What type of life can someone have onb$1360 per month? What was the rationale for dropping $0.5 per hour from the committee’s recommendation?? Was it too much for employees at the bottom of the economic ladder?? Was it a power trip?? The Frig….out. Government is a damn frig….


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