Good evening Fellow Citizens,
Last week was a historic week – we welcomed and honoured our sprint sensation, Hundred Meters Gold Olympian, Ms. Julien Alfred home. All Saint Lucians at home and abroad felt a sense of pride as the nation celebrated – Thank you Julien for being who you are and allowing the country to benefit from your stardom.
On 1 October our country will take another step in its evolution to continue to address the needs of the workers when the Minimum Livable Wage of $1,131 per month or $6.52 per hour will become law.
I would like to provide a historical perspective of the journey, in search of a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work for Saint Lucian workers. The journey started in the 1930s, following the economic depression of 1929. Back then, the Legislative Council enacted the Labour (Minimum Wage) Ordinance No. 5 of 1935 to establish a minimum wage for specific workers like the coal carriers. This was followed by amendments to the Ordinance to align the quantum of work done to pay and to make special provisions for workers whose ability to work was affected by physical injuries, age and infirmities.
The enactment of laws to protect workers, inspired the creation of the Saint Lucia Cooperative Workers Union (SLWCU) by Mr. Charles Augustine and Mr. R G H Clarke, the first Union president, in 1939.
In 1945, Sir George Charles, Mr. Oleo Jn Baptiste and Mr. Emmanuel Springer had joined the SLWCU, mobilizing workers from different sectors to join the Union.
Seven years later in 1952, the first comprehensive piece of legislation governing the establishment of minimum wages came into law under the Wages Council Ordinance No1. of 1952.
It was the late Sir George Charles during the 1950s who actively embarked upon a policy of pro-worker legislation, followed by Sir John Compton between 1965 and 1970.
In 1999 under the Dr. Kenny D Anthony administration, the country witnessed far-reaching changes in the Labour Legislation. Among those changes were:
1. The Equality of Opportunity in Employment Act; allowing for equal pay for men and women doing the same jobs.
2. Minimum Wage Act; allowing for the creation of the Minimum Wages Commission.
3. The right to Trade Union representation if supported by a majority in the workplace.
4. The exemption of income tax on service charges paid to hotel employees.
The Minimum and EqualWages Commission was appointed by the Minister of Labour by instrument dated 20 September 2022. The last legislated Minimum Wage Order was in 1985. Previously there was the Minimum Wage Order Statutory Instrument 2002 No 12 that legislated a minimum wage for construction workers.
The Commission set about its work under the Chairmanship of Mr. Lawrence Poyotte and engaged in a broad level of consultation with several stakeholders. The Commission’s work was guided by the adoption of methodologies recommended by the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In making its final recommendations to the Minister, many key factors were considered including:
1. The general level of wages in Saint Lucia,
2. The cost of living,
3. NIC contributions and benefits,
4. The level of productivity,
5. Impact on employment levels,
6. Impact on attracting foreign investment,
7. And the protection of workers.
Our Historical Responsibility
Historically, it has been the responsibility of previous Labour governments and this government to secure fair pay for all workers. The Saint Lucia Labour Party government has always recognized that work is an integral part of the human experience and therefore, has an innate dignity. The work we do is not just about what we produce but an expression of who we are. In recognizing the dignity of work, workers need to be paid to allow them to meet their very basic needs.
I am pleased to learn that there was no formal objection from the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association found favour with the final recommendations of the Commission.
This augurs well for the building of our nation, when employers are sufficiently socially conscious to stand in solidarity with workers at the lower income levels of the work force. I implore employers to strengthen this solidarity by resisting any efforts to reduce levels of staffing where adjustments are to be made to bring wages in line with the minimum livable wage. What may appear to be cost savings at the level of your individual businesses may turn out to be more costly at the national level, resulting in false savings. I, therefore, encourage employers to help staff improve their level of productivity so that workers are always providing value for money.
I call on employees, especially those who are the subject of those changes, to give their best in the exercise of their work duties. As a country, we need to improve our level of productivity if we are to remain competitive in the world. It is the sure and sustainable way of growing the Saint Lucian economy in the long run. Productivity improvements are a positive-sum game: employees, employers, and the country all benefit. I, therefore, implore all workers together with their employers to do more to improve the level of productivity in their respective businesses.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the Minister of Labour Hon. Dr Virginia Albert- Poyotte, the staff of the Ministry of Labour, and the members of The Commission for the work they have done since their appointment on August 1st ,2022. Their process of consultation was wideranging and effective.
Let me also make special mention of the private sector in general for their understanding and participation in the process.
The October 1st implementation of the minimum livable wage is a clear commitment on the part of my government, to make the necessary interventions where market forces fail to address the minimum living standards of workers. The stability and strength of our nation is very dependent on the well-being of the vulnerable in our midst.
As a socially- conscious government, we will remain faithful to the needs of the people, ensuring that there is dignity in work and that workers can have a dignified existence by being able to take care of themselves and their families.
The Minimum Wage of $1,131 monthly or $6.52 per hour does not include a payment of overtime, a share of service charge, a commission, bonus or profit-sharing. Allow me to end with a quote from the late Marcus Josiah Garvey, “With confidence you have won, even before you started.”
Thank You