St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre is urging employers not to send home workers now that their minimum wage has been increased.
“I implore employers to strengthen their solidarity by resisting any efforts to reduce levels of staffing where adjustments are to be made to bring wages in line with the minimum livable wage. What may appear to be cost savings at the level of your individual businesses may turn out to be more costly at the national level resulting in false savings,” Pierre said in a national address.
At least 11,000 workers must now be paid 1,131 Eastern Caribbean dollars per month or $652 per hour in keeping with the law that took effect yesterday. He says the minimum wage commission took several things into consideration in recommending a fair day pay.
The Prime Minister welcomed the fact that the St Lucia chamber and the St Lucia Hotel Association did not formally object to the minimum wage.
