Trade union representatives and the Jamaica Household Workers Association are lobbying for double-digit increases in the National Minimum Wage, which is expected to be increased this month.

The representatives made the recom-mended increases to the National Minimum Wage Advisory Commission during its series of consultations that were held in November and December.

According to Shirley Pryce, president of the Jamaica Household Workers Association, her members had recommended a 14.28 per cent increase or $400, which would move the rate from $2,800 to $3,200 per week.

"Normally, I always think about household helpers alone, but this time I am thinking about employers too," she said. "I have to think both ways because they are not getting any increase for them to pay a big sum."

Ms. Pryce has described their demands as "minimal".

"I am just trying to be reasonable, I know that is not enough," she said.

Meanwhile, the trade unions are lobbying for a 33.33 per cent increase. However, the Jamaica Employer's Federation (JEF) is batting for a six to eight per cent increase.

Factors taken into consideration

Jacqueline Coke-Lloyd, executive director of the JEF, said a number of factors were looked at in arriving at this figure.

"Inflation is now down - single digit, you ought to take a number of things into consideration as well as most of the public sector increases for salaries are around seven per cent," she said.

The National Minimum Wage Committee is expected to have its final meeting next week before making its recommendations to Labour Minister, Derrick Kellier who would then make his own recommendation to Cabinet.

The minimum wage, which affects more than 200,000 Jamaicans, was last increased from $2,400 to $2,800 in January. An increase in minimum wage was also granted to industrial security guards, which saw their wages moving from $3,600 to $4,140 for a 40-hour workweek.