Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter 
DALLEY
THE MINIMUM Wage Advisory Commission, the body set up to review the national minimum wage has
recommended an 11.25 per cent increase for next year.
The Gleaner has learnt that the three-member commission chaired by attorney-at-law, Norma Linton, Q.C., submitted its recommendation to Horace Dalley, the minister of labour and social security, last week.
Alvin McIntosh, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour, last week declined to say what the recommendations were, pointing out that the recommendations would have to be approved by Cabinet.
If Cabinet signs off on the
recommendations, the country could see the minimum wage moving from $2,000 to $2,225 per week.
Meanwhile, the commission has recommended a 12.5 per cent increase for industrial security guards, which would see their wages moving from $3,200 to $3,600, or an additional $90 per week.
However, it will not be before sometime next year before the recommendations take effect as Parliament, which is on Christmas break, would have to also approve the recommendations. Usually, the new minimum wage takes effect on January 1.
Last month, the commission listened to submissions made by stakeholders, including the Jamaica Household Workers' Association which had lobbied for a 50 per cent increase in the minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Employers' Federation, the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the unions put forward increases of three per cent, 11 per cent and 14.1 per cent, respectively.
