Labor Commissioner Joseph Joseph has urged employers to prepare to comply with the upcoming National Minimum Livable Wage, set to take effect on October 1, 2024.
This long-overdue measure will ensure that every Saint Lucian earns a minimum wage of $6.52 per hour or $1,131 monthly. The aim is to promote economic equity across sectors.
The minimum wage would be separate from any incentives, bonuses, commissions, or service charges employees earn.
However, some observers have raised serious concerns that employers might resort to layoffs and dismissals due to the financial constraints resulting from the new law.
The Labor Commissioner emphasised that officials strongly discourage such practices.
“We do not encourage companies to use layoff or redundancy, due to the minimum wage,” he noted. “ The minimum wage is a blessing to our people, those at the lower end of the scale. It’s an opportunity for them to eat bread.” Joseph added.
The Commissioner warned that strict penalties could result if employers fail to comply with the law.
“There are provisions made in the Act as far as penalties for people who breach the legislation. So we have a $10,000 fine as well as the six-month imprisonment, either or, or both,” he highlighted.
“Do not use the minimum wage as a punishment. It is not meant to be that. It is supposed to be an achievement for us. Let us celebrate instead of punishing people,” Joseph declared.
The Labour Commissioner has encouraged employees to familiarise themselves with the legislation and their state-mandated rights.
The Department of Labour is embarking on a sensitisation campaign, with an official roadshow scheduled for next month.
Before the legally mandated minimum wage took effect, Labour Minister Dr. Virginia-Albert Poyotte had announced an extension of the minimum wage commission’s term to monitor the minimum wage implementation process, including any layoffs due to the measure.
He said that every saint Lucian shouldn’t earn less than $6.52 per hour or $1,131 monthly.
Let’s see right now they can’t fire you because of this good but they should be charge much more because they will fire staffs before it takes effect u should fined them if they fire staffs in September especially the hotels and security firms
I am for the minimum wage. However, why should I be penalties if I can’t afford it at this point? In my view the timing is bad. The economy is not doing too well. The employers are not doing well. We all knew that before the increase was spoken about. This was done after a 2.5% levy was inposed on the public. I would have liked to see the government remove the 2.5% levy and also reduce on tax for the employers.
All technocrats know full well there is jack squat y’all can do about companies cutting their costs to counter this increased expense. If that cost is firing workers then so be it. A minimum wage has many consequences. You cannot force a company to be unprofitable. Company fails and EVERYBODY gets fired. Would you rather sacrifice some workers or everyone? The other option is to have the owners make less profit. Who invests in a business with minimal profitability? The other option is increased prices to offset increased costs. That falls on the consumer who is already suffering in a highly inflationary environment. Pick your poison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7nB0OyZ7ns
The country has to have a minimum to stop the exploitation of thousands of workers and also to have standards as it relates to foreign investment . There are workers in the private sector who are earning 3 to 5 EC dollars working 12 to 18 hour shifts which in my opinion is modern day slavery . The government has given the private sector enough time so they need to comply with the new wage rate in our country there or also penalties and fines if they do not comply . The NIC has to work with the minimum wage commission to see that the workers get the new rate as it will reflect in the amount of money that they get workers need to get a new union as the NWU is not making any sense…
There has to be a way for government to enforce a minimum wage without looking stupid.
This is some bizarre crap. Shades of Maduro’s economy. Does the government dictate a business owner’s profitability? Who is responsible for the business loss? Someone has definitely lost his marbles.
I welcome the Minimum wage that government is putting in place. But with the labour department headed by a joker as commission, that do nothing labour department will do nothing if employers don’t comply or do what they want.
The Commissioner needs to return to his retirement and give the department a chance to breathe.
That is crap to say that the economy is not doing well poor excuse so many jobs are available in the private sector, hotels , security and construction so when will the economy do well is 6:52 to much to pay a secondary school leaver with cxcs even Chastanet and prudent has stated that it is to low . How can people live on 3 to 5 EC dollar an hour in 24 with so many commitments Sandals started with 1 hotel but currently has 4 , Bay Gardens has 4 properties look at the high end vehicles that the employers drive and the big houses that the are building , almost every develop country has minimum wage even when st Lucian go and baby sit in New York has a minimum wage please give me a break . We need to start having standards in our country and pay our people a decent salary …
This is the most anti worker labor department ever. By the way do we have a labor tribunal in place? Workers are better hiring a lawyer. Oh, oh; we too poor for lawyer. Guess the employers win again….. SMH
There are some big companies in st.lucia still paying $800 to their staff monthly even though they meet their yearly targets so this needed to be addressed. How can someone support a family, pay rent and bills and other expenses on $800 monthly. Some workers ate even over worked because of lack of staff so of they wanted to do a part time job after for a couple hours they can’t because they are so tired at the end of the shift.
I support the minimum wage. This man is speaking crap how can you tell employees dont send people home do you know the peoples business. Labour department cannot take no one to court for laying off staff.i think this man need to take a back seat.i stand for the minimum wage bit stop speaking crap nonsense you cannot prevent people from laying off people. Government dont care with no one.even the people who support them will be laying off people first this is where we will see people suffering. This man need to speak properly never can he prevent the layoff he can see to it the the people get paid properly but not about the lay off if not he will pay them.some people speak and they dont think.you dont know the business owners business but you want to put fine on them if they layoff people stupid.the monies government putting in the hairy bank give it to business owners to pay staff if you dont want layoff.
Bottom line: Profits cannot be contingent on exploitation. Modern day slavery is no way to run a business. Examine your business model and adjust to the challenges of the times we are living. The idea that the government needs to suffer revenue loss to accommodate what should be fair business practice is ludicrous. Ever thought this wage/salary increase may just be the motivation the staff needs to be more efficient?
Lead by example of the sir late MJC and not by rum talks which the rights of the employees have be sold for a pocket change and white rum..
Their deserved a minimum wage even fifteen $dollars an hour,
St Lucians stop pleading for the richman,watch your bread,
Thank God ❗
@Truth be told, I don’t think its the whole department but its the most anti worker Commissioner.
There is no harm in having the minimium wage. COMISSIONER if you cannot afford to pay all your staff at that salary, you have to make some redundant. The company will keep the productive staff and send the lazy ones home. Things you would over look as a business owner you can’t entertain it now. Remember commissioner the employer also has a higher 5% to pay to NIC on behalf of the staff they keep. No one can force any business owner to keep staff they can’t pay. Nonsense. The communist law you trying to throw at business owners. We need it for the Criminals in this country. Thank you..