BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 3RD 2014 (CUOPM) – A 27-person National Advisory Committee on Minimum Wage has completed its task and has submitted an Executive Summary to Minister of Labour, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett.
Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Spencer Amory said a Final Report has been completed and will soon be submitted to Minister Nisbett.
He said the Labour Minister in accordance with the power vested in him under the Minimum Wage Act Chapter 18:19 commissioned a review of the minimum wage.
Mr. Amory said Minister Nisbett hosted a National Consultation with key stakeholders on 7thAugust 2014 at the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“The Honourable Minister tendered to the Stakeholders the justification for the review of the Minimum wage. The Minister indicated that a National Advisory Committee shall be established to review the minimum wage and indicated that the Cabinet expected said Minimum Wage Committee to commence it work and furnished its report by 31st August 2014,” said Mr. Amory.
He disclosed that the Committee met on 19th August, 21st August 2014, 26th August 2014 and 28th August 2014.
“It has concluded its work and an Executive Summary of the views, suggestions and recommendation were prepared and forwarded to the Minister of Labour. The final report had been prepared for submission to the Honourable Minister,” Mr. Amory told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) on Tuesday.
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The members of the Committee are: Government – L Spencer Amory – Department of Labour (Chairman); Gary Liburd – Department of Labour (Nevis); Shernel James – Department of Labour (Secretary); Jacquelin Chiverton–Pemberton – Department of Labour; Winston Parris – Department of Labour (Nevis)’ Robelto Hector – Legal Adviser to the Department of Labour; Calvin Edwards – Ministry of Finance; Gary Thomas – Ministry of Finance; Carlton Phipps – Ministry of Sustainable Development; Azilla Clarke, Director, Social Services and Etsu Bradshaw, Director Gender Affairs.
Workers Representatives – Joseph O’Flaherty – President, St Kitts–Nevis Trades and Labour Union (SKNTLU); Sydney Bridgewater – 1st Vice President, SKNTLU and Batumba Tak – General Secretary, SKNTLU.
Employers Representatives – Calvin Cable – Executive Director, St Kitts- Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC); Ernie Francis – Vice President, SKNCIC (Nevis); Anthony Kelsick – SKNCIC, Business Sector Representative; Linkon Maynard – President, SKNCIC Manufacturing Council; Carol Evelyn – SKNCIC Manufacturing Council; Lennox Warner – St. Kitts and Nevis Building Contractors Association; Kaloma O’Marde Hamilton – Executive Director, Hotel and Tourism Association; Jacques Hamou – HTA Business Representative and Lincoln David-Pelle – Security Services Sector.
Other Key Stakeholders were Leon Charles – Legal Advisor, St Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board; Charlene Bowry – Human Resource Manager, Social Security Board; Norma Pemberton – Human Resource Director, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and Christopher Archibald – Civic-based Society Representative (Christian Council).