Premier agrees minimum wage should be reviewed
![Works Minister, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool noted that some concerns were raised by the taxi operators and other members and so on and [Premier Smith] met with them and [has] been discussing the cruise pier issue among [Cabinet members] and their concerns are being taken into consideration. Photo: VINO/File](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_m_Mark_Vanterpool_10_02.jpg)
Speaking on the NDP radio programme last evening, November 4, 2013, Dr Smith also noted that employers should not be paying this to everyone that they employ simply because it is the minimum.
“As far as the minimum wage is concerned, it is true that [minimum wage] should be reviewed, but I’d just like to say at the same time, that because there is a minimum wage it is not necessary that employers should be paying the minimum wage to everybody who they employ,” Dr Smith said.
The minimum wage of the Virgin Islands (VI) currently stands at $4.00 per hour.
The Premier also called for employers to respect the hard work of their employees. “I think employers would normally respect the hard work of their employees so that the minimum wage is not the basic wage for employees. But I agree, that is something that we should look at and will look at.”
Several calls have been made over the past few years for the minimum wage issue to be addressed even as the Labour Minister, Dr The Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering, noted last year that it has been a burning issue in the territory.
Cruise pier concerns being taken into consideration
Dr Smith also spoke on the issue of cruise pier concerns aired recently and said government remains open to these concerns.
He further noted that his government remains committed to the issue and are continuing to make the necessary plans to ensure that the cruise pier, and cruise industry by extension, continue to be developed.
“As far as the cruise dock is concerned,” Dr Smith stated, “I want to reassure you that we are definitely interested and committed to developing the cruise dock because we see it as important to the continued development of the cruise industry which is the part of the tourism industry which is vital to the economic good of the British Virgin Islands.”
Works Minister, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool added, “With the cruise ship dock issue there were some concerns raised by the taxi operators and other members and so on and [Premier Smith] met with them and [has] been discussing the matter among [Cabinet members] and we’re taking their concerns into consideration and I’m sure we’ll discuss this further as we go along.”
“As a government,” Dr Smith continued, “we’ve always believed that it is important to be open to whatever concerns that are raised by members of the public or concerned individuals and we always, when it is necessary, stop, pause, take a listen and make a decision as to how we could listen and incorporate the ideas that we hear from everyone.”
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15 Responses to “Premier agrees minimum wage should be reviewed”
It does need to be reviewed but its a tough one ...would be interested to know how they plan to approach it
Problem 1 it will cripple small business which is already crawling
We need a more Robust Economy!!!
to eat .Time is very hard now so let us try to give each other a helping hand .STOP BLAH.................................................... all the time.
What you fail to realize is that when you tell a company the minimum is $4 that is what they will abide by.
Since the new labour code which states that when you stay home 1 day, you need a doctor’s note to prove that you are sick, most companies are glad and of course have this enforced. Our company is no exception. So, what happens is that when persons are sick, and can’t afford to go to the doctor, they come to work and then one by one the entire staff gets sick. But guess what, they wouldn’t enforce the other laws that are not in their favor, like pension. Despite the mandatory requirement of Pension we still don’t have one.
So unless you raise the bar, they will continue to pay the bare minimum.