The Labour Advisory Board has recommended setting Montserrat’s first national minimum wage at EC$12.50 per hour.
For a standard 40-hour working week, this amounts to $500 per week and $26,000 per year before deductions.
Labour minister Veronica Dorsette-Hector explained that the board had finished its “comprehensive review” of the minimum wage and submitted its recommendations to the government.
The minister was responding to opposition member Nyota Mulcare who requested an update on the minimum wage in the latest sitting of the Montserrat Legislative Assembly.
“The government will review the Labour Advisory Board proposal with a view to decide on the most favourable or feasible approach to its implementation,” Dorsette-Hector said.
“This includes considering the financial implications for both the public and private sectors, as well as the legislative and administrative steps required.”
She added that an Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment, budgeted for by former premier Joseph Farrell in April 2024, would help guide the decision.
However, she did not say if this had begun and when it was likely to be completed.
Dorsette-Hector assured the assembly that while she could not yet provide an exact timeline, the ministry remained committed to advancing the process.
“Our goal is to ensure a decision that is not only fair, but also sustainable for Montserrat’s economy,” she said.
The minister added that if the government decided not to proceed with the implementation of a minimum wage, an explanation would be provided to the legislative assembly and to the public.
It will outline the rationale and alternative measures to address the cost of living and labour market conditions, she said.
In 2022, the Ministry of Labour held public consultations on a national minimum wage which included town hall meetings and an online survey.
