Premier Smith declines to name min. wage review C’tte head
The issue of minimum wage has been a burning one on the table of the government and persons in all sectors have been making their cries loud for this to be reviewed and the ceiling lifted considering the rise in cost of living and the stagnant pay purse of the average class working in the Territory.
On Tuesday September 16, 2014 the Premier held one of his usual press conferences to bring the media up to speed of the Territory’s development and to respond to questions. When asked about the constitution of the committee Premier Smith said only that he knew that the committee was indeed set up.
He said, “The committee has been set up…not too long ago. [Who] heads it I cannot at this moment tell you because I would not recall but it has been set up with Chairman and members who will be [doing] whatever work they’ve been asked to [after which] they would report to government.”
What was puzzling was the fact that it was sometime in July of this year that Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) had alluded to the fact that persons were already selected.
The minimum wage currently in the Virgin Islands is $4 per hour. Many persons say this is what employers are guilty of paying their staff even in the daily rise in prices for basic commodities required for daily living.
15 Responses to “Premier Smith declines to name min. wage review C’tte head”
2. Vice chairman, Mrs. Benedicta Samuels-Richardson
3. Representative of shops and stores, Mr. Roger Mathavious, Jr.
4. Representative of Hotel and Commerce Association, Mr. Louis Potter
5. Representative of Restaurants, Mr. Wilbert Mason
6. Representative of Restaurants, Mr. Mario Smith
7. Representative of Building Industry, Mrs. Roxanne Ritter-Herbert
8. Representative of Workers, Mrs. Jeanette Black
9. Representative of Workers, Mr. Wilbert Smith
10. Representative of Sister Islands, Ms. Anne Lennard
11. Youth representative, Mr. Aaron Parillon
12. Youth representative, Mr. Bevin George
13. President/representative of the Virgin Islands Christian Council
14. Representative of Development Planning Unit Raymond Phillips
15. Financial Secretary/ representative (Advisory)
16. Labour Commissioner/representative (Advisory)
17. Secretary, ex-officio Member from the Labour Department
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