Antigua gov’t accepts recommendation to increase minimum wage

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has accepted a recommendation to increase the national minimum wage by four dollars, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant, has said.

Merchant, speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet news conference, said the minimum wage will now be EC$13 after the government received a presentation from the National Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.

Merchant said the Cabinet had received the committee’s report and formally considered the findings and proposals aimed at adjusting the country’s current minimum wage.

He said that the committee, comprising representatives from government, employers’ federations, and trade unions, was tasked with reviewing the adequacy of the existing wage structure.

It examined stakeholder feedback and conducted an assessment of the current economic environment before arriving at its recommendation

Merchant told reporters the committee concluded that the present minimum wage of nine EC dollars per hour no longer adequately reflects the realities faced by workers, particularly amid rising living costs, and as a result, recommended the increase to better align wages with prevailing economic conditions.

But Merchant said that while the Cabinet had accepted the recommendation, the wage adjustment would be implemented gradually over a three-year period rather than as an immediate increase.

“The Cabinet has agreed that the adjustments should be implemented in phases over a three-year period,” Merchant said, noting that the approach is designed to balance the interests of workers and employers.

Cabinet has also requested that the National Minimum Wage Advisory Committee undertake further consultations with a wider cross-section of stakeholders before finalizing how the increases will be structured across the three-year timeline.

To support its work, the committee is expected to meet with several specialists who can provide expert advice on wage policy and economic impact.

The aim, Merchant said, is to ensure that the adjustments deliver the greatest possible benefit to workers while minimizing potential disruption to businesses and the broader economy.

Merchant said that the Cabinet acknowledged the importance of striking a fair and sustainable balance between improving workers’ standard of living and maintaining a stable and competitive business environment in Antigua and Barbuda.

Merchant said the government remains committed to policies that promote fair wages, support economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

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