While some stakeholders have welcomed the increase in the national minimum wage, which takes effect today, they argue that it will do little to offset the rising cost of living and are calling for a further top-up.

“Inflation is up, prices are up, everything raise. It’s very hard for minimum wage earners to survive, and therefore, we are calling upon the Government to do a further increase where the minimum wage is concerned,” said Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) President Garnett Reid.

The national minimum wage has been increased by $1,000, moving from $16,000 to $17,000 per 40-hour work week for regular workers and security guards. The Government has touted this raise in the wage floor as a signal of its commitment to the country’s most vulnerable, while urging employers to pay more if they can.