KINGSTON, Jamaica–With the national minimum wage set to increase by $1,000 per week to $17,000 effective July I, 2026, Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr is urging employers to pay more if they are able to do so.

“The minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling. I call on employers, especially those who can afford to do more, to invest in their workforce and to go beyond the minimum where circumstances permit. Let us move from compliance to genuine appreciation,” Charles Jr said.

He was speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, where he led the debate on the Minimum Wage (Industrial Security Guards) (Amendment) Order, 2026 Resolution and the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Order, 2026 Resolution, which give rise to the increase.