Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
INCREASES IN the National Minimum Wage will take effect on January 30 instead of January 1, as promised by Labour and Social Security Minister, Horace Dalley.
Addressing board members of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) luncheon at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday, the minister said that the delay was due to a minority report, which was submitted along with the recommendations from the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission.
Mr. Dalley said that the recommended increase was not submitted to the House of Representatives before it went on its Christmas break last week, and as a result the new increases would not take effect on January 1, as Parliament would resume sittings on January 10.
He said Cabinet is expected to sign off on the recommendation on January 9 before it is sent to Parliament for ratification on January 10.
The minister refused to divulge what the increases would be, as he explained that it would be inappropriate to make that announcement before going to Parliament.
However, the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission, which had several inputs from the wider public during islandwide consultations, had recommended a 10 per cent increase, which would bring it to $2,640.
But according to a ministry source, it is expected that the minister would go above the 10 per cent increase and instead move the minimum wage to $3,000.
If the minister goes that route, several household helpers would be more than satisfied.
"If it is $3,000, I would be very happy because that is what we have asked for," said Shirley Pryce, president of the Jamaica Household Helpers Association.
Miss Pryce, however, revealed that most of her colleagues were receiving above the minimum wage.
But for Sharon*, who is receiving $2,400 a week, things have been very hard for her.
DON'T LIVE ABOVE YOUR MEANS
"You have to know how to budget (the money) and you don't live above your means," she said.
But she pointed out that while it has been difficult, it could be worse as her family and the children's father were assisting her.
While Denise* is getting a little over $3,000, things are still difficult for her family.
She said that balancing the budget is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"We just don't budget!" she declared when asked how she manages to feed her family of three. She spends $1,000 per month on travelling and $4,500 per fortnight on food, and she has to find lunch money to send her child to school.
Her recommendation is that the minimum wage should be increased to $3,500 per week for a 40-hour work week.
She is also suggesting that more benefits, such as health coverage, should be given to persons who are getting minimum wage.
* Names changed on request.
