Minimum wage, pension increases inadequate - Dalley

Opposition Spokesman on Labour Horace Dalley says he is disappointed with what he describes as the meagre $800 increase in the minimum wage.

The increase was announced by Labour Minister Shahine Robinson during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday.

Dalley says it is disgraceful that after two years, the government would only offer an $600 dollar increase, moving the minimum wage from $6,400 to $7000 per 40-hour work week.

He says while an increase to pensioners was long overdue, it does not bring the real relief that they expected to mitigate the impact of months of price increases because of the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar. 

Old age pension has been increased from $2,800 to $3,400 per week.

The shadow minister described both increases as too little, too late.  

Dalley says the government should adopt the policy, started under the last People's National Party administration of an incremental increase in the minimum wage at the beginning of each calendar year.

He points out that during its pre-election campaign in 2016, the Jamaica Labour Party (JL) promised, if elected, to set a minimum wage of $10,000 per 40-hour work week.

He laments that it has taken the JLP led-government two and a half years to grant an increase in the minimum of only $600 dollars.

The PNP shadow argues that the increases are not enough to mitigate the massive movement in price increases and surge in the cost of living during the last 24 months to provide any relief whatsoever to suffering workers and pensioners.

Meanwhile, Dalley, says he welcomes the call by Robinson for a joint select committee of Parliament to address issues concerning security guards.

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