Labour Minister to issue order on proposed private sector minimum wage

Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton has said that he will soon be issuing an order to increase the private sector minimum to $60,000.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Minister Hamilton explained that under the APNU+AFC Administration, a tripartite committee was convened where the issue of increasing the minimum wage in the Private Sector addressed.

However, meetings of that tripartite committee were stalled and so, a decision was taken by the PPP/C Administration to reestablish a new committee which will immediately continue the discission on the proposed $60,000 increase.

The new committee will include representatives from the relevant unions, the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Manufacturing Service Association, and all the Chamber of Commerce.

Correspondence were sent to the respective organisations who have since responded naming their representatives for the tripartite committee, Minister Hamilton said.

“Once that is sanctioned, hopefully next week, at the highest level of Government I will a meeting to discuss the matter… because, as I understand it no one has an objection to the raising of the minimum wage and I have had discussions with all the sides.”

However, the Private Sector has raised the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative impact on businesses.

“So, I have an understanding about that but I can assure you that not so long from now I will issue an order regarding the minimum wave rise to $60,000,” Minister Hamilton assured.

The private sector minimum wage has not increased since 2017 when it was raised from an hourly rate of $202 to $255, taking the monthly wage from $35,000 to $44,200.

The minimum wage in the public sector currently stands at $70,000.