PM Announces Increase in National Minimum Wage

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced an increase in Jamaica’s national minimum wage.

Effective June 1, 2024, the minimum wage will rise from $13,000 to $15,000 per week, marking a notable 15 percent  increase.

The announcement came during Prime Minister Holness’s concluding remarks in the House of Representatives following his Budget Debate presentation on Thursday evening.

The news was met with resounding applause from members of the government benches.

Addressing the importance of this decision, Prime Minister Holness emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that the working class and the most vulnerable segments of society remain abreast with inflation.

He underscored the necessity of the increase, highlighting the challenges faced by many working poor individuals, particularly during the recent campaigning period for the Local Government Election held on February 26.

Furthermore, in a move aimed at promoting parity and equity, Prime Minister Holness announced that the minimum wage for industrial security guards would also be raised from $14,000 to $15,000 per week, aligning it with the national minimum wage.

This decision signifies a departure from the previous practice of maintaining a discrepancy between the two wage rates.

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