Parliament on Tuesday approved Orders to increase the minimum wage by $1,000, moving it from $16,000 to $17,000 per 40-hour work week, effective July 1.

Stating that this is the fifth increase in the minimum wage by the Government, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr said the impending rise in the wage floor is a signal of the continued commitment to Jamaica’s most vulnerable.

“It is important to note that the Government has not treated minimum wage adjustments as an isolated act. This is part of a broader commitment to improve living standards, strengthen economic security, and ensure that national progress is shared more fairly across society,” he said.