Above: Kingston
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Jamaica’s new national minimum wage took effect Monday.
The wage is set at J$5,000 per 40 hour work week, or approximately $56.30 USD, or about $1.41 USD per hour.
That represents an 11 percent increase in minimum wage, which is the result of recommendations from Jamaica’s Minimum Wage Advisory Commission.
The announcement that Jamaica would raise the rate came in late July from Labour and Security Minister Derrick Kellier.
It was previously $51 USD per week.
The increase also accompanies a rise in the minimum wage for industrial security guards, which has been lifted by 10 percent.
Jamaica’s minimum wage was previously increased in February 2011.