Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has invited employers to consider the effects on workers in laying-them-off instead of paying the new legal Livable Minimum Wage – but he has not declared that any local employer who takes such action would amount to “treason”.
Instead, according to government officials, he has urged employers not to lay-off workers because of the new Minimum Wage law passed to increase their minimum daily salaries.
The Prime Minister, who is also Minister for Finance, Economic Development and The Youth Economy, issued the plea with employers on August 1, as he launched this year’s Emancipation Month celebrations under the theme ‘Enkindling Our Consciousness’.
According to the PM, “Our forebears would be proud, if we can build a society of equity and justice, which is why, as of today — 1st August 2024 — my Government is implementing the first-ever new Minimum Wage for the workers of this country.”
As a result, he added, “effective 1st October 2024, no worker in this country will earn less-than $1,130 a month, or $52.00 daily, or $6.52 an hour.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that “13,000 people are expected to benefit immediately with salary increases as a result of this policy.”
He warned employers too, that the Minimum Wage “does not include any other renumeration that an employee is entitled to, such as overtime, share of service charge, commissions, bonus or profit-sharing.”
The Prime Minister, who’s also Minister for Finance, urged and encouraged “all employers” to “accept this act for greater equity in our society.”
He observed that “There are whispers that some employers are planning to do otherwise”, but “I want to discourage you from attempting to lay-off workers instead of rewarding their years of hard work with this minimum wage.”
“To do this,” he added, “would be to sow the seeds of discord, disgruntlement and probably criminal activity, which would be counterproductive for us all in the long run.”
PM Pierre said, “A contented workforce is a productive work force and a productive workforce advances the development of the entire country.”
He further explained, “We understand the profit motive of businesses, (but) I want to appeal to you to give equal consideration to the welfare of your employees and your social responsibility to the wider community.”
He added, “Let us therefore all embrace this minimum wage in the spirit with which it is being implemented today – the spirit of emancipation from injustice.”
PM Pierre thanked members of the Minimum and Equal Wages Commission, comprising of all social partners, for their hard work and dedication in arriving at the minimum wage, which, he said, “according to their calculations, is a Livable Wage.”
He said similar reasons belie “why we have ensured that, as of this day 1st August 2024, the monthly payments for our pensioners who have contributed so much to our development, will increase to $725 — so that, from today, no government pensioner will receive less than that amount.”
“Likewise,” he added, “no National Insurance pensioner will receive less than $500 monthly, which amounts to an increase in payment for 3,438 pensioners — from today…”