THE MINISTRY of Labour and Social Security is scheduled to begin consultations on the National Minimum Wage across the island within the next two weeks.
According to Labour Minister Horace Dalley, the Government is hoping to implement the new minimum wage in the first working week of January, 2006.
Mr. Dalley said the Labour Ministry would be broadening public participation this year as part of the process of determining adjustments to the National Minimum Wage.
He said several letters have already been sent to members of the public inviting them to be part of the consultation process.
Mr. Dalley said the secretariat of the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission is already putting plans in place to facilitate five regional consultations across the island.
Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Mandeville, Port Antonio and Kingston have been identified as the locations where the consultations will run from August 22 to the first week in September.
The Labour Ministry said details related to the venues and time would be published within the next two weeks.
The National Minimum Wage, which was last adjusted on January 31, now stands at $2,400 for a 40-hour work week.
