MINIMUM WAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONTINUES DELIBERATIONS

The national minimum wage advisory committee is to hold its latest meeting on Friday.
ABS News understands this will be the fourth meeting of the committee since it was established to review the country’s minimum wage.
There has not been any public comment from the 12-member committee but ABS News understands they are working steadily to complete their report.
That report will be provided to Attorney General and Labour Minister Hon. Steadroy Benjamin and the cabinet, as is required by law.
Antigua and Barbuda’s minimum wage was increased to $8.20 per hour by the Gaston Browne administration in 2015.
The government has indicated that while it is one of the highest in the region, there is a need for revision in the wake of rising inflation caused by international factors.
Prices in Antigua and Barbuda were on average 10.5 per cent higher in June this year than they were a year earlier.
Analysts say the price rises have been the result of supply-side shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and compounded by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.