USVI: New $12 minimum wage takes effect
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, USVI- Friday, April 26, 2026, marked “Day 0” of the implementation of the new minimum wage rate of $12.00 an hour across the US Virgin Islands.
Act 9069, which adjusted the minimum wage, required that the new amount take effect ninety days after enactment. The next adjustment to the minimum wage will be on June 1, 2027, when it will increase once more to $14.00. On June 1, 2028, the minimum wage will move up to $15.00 per hour. Using economic data, the Virgin Islands Wage Board must then determine the amount that will take effect in June 2029.
The new minimum wage applies to all businesses across the Virgin Islands, both small and large.
Appearing before the Legislature for an unrelated discussion on Friday, Labor Commissioner Gary Malloy reminded business owners that implementation is mandatory. “Everything yesterday could be $10.50, but from today, we need to see your records to reflect the $12.00,” Malloy said.
Mixed reviews
The increased minimum wage has been regarded by some as long overdue and perhaps insufficient.
“The reviews are mixed…on both sides. Some employers already have been above that minimum wage, so it's not impacting them,” Malloy told Senator Avery Lewis, who inquired about public reviews.
Some smaller businesses, he said, are “complaining a little bit, but they're doing what needs to happen.”
Employees, whose payslips will reflect a higher amount, are also standing on either side of the divide. Malloy shared that while some are thrilled, others are “worried that they will be no longer eligible for the social programs.”
Senator Lewis, too, shared that he had encountered individuals who feared that their SNAP benefits would be impacted, as they would now earn too much to qualify for those benefits. He characterised these as the “domino effects” of the legislation.
Notwithstanding the public sentiment, the Department of Labor has promised to enforce Act 9069 without exception. “I like to say we come in peace, but if we have to come with enforcement, we are coming with enforcement,” he stated. Businesses can expect compliance checks and random visits. Malloy reminded business owners that “we have the authority under Title 24 to ask for your payroll, your records, and to review.”
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14 Responses to “USVI: New $12 minimum wage takes effect ”
We haven't seen much,plenty more to come and not the ytman fault.
Before that Hon. Lorna (not in our corner) Smith did recommended that minimum wages be raised to $8.50, which was not a significant increase, from $6.00. Shortly after she was fired. After splitting the $2.50 in half, she, Hon. Lorna (not in our corner) was rehired.
Question #1. Should any minimum wages earners in their right mind under these pressing conditions vote for our Premier coming next general elections?
Question #2 Should the minimum wages earners vote in the next coming general elections owing to the fact that $7.25 an hour can't make end meet for alternative candidates other than VIP candidates?
Question #3. Will the welbeing, financially speaking, for minimum wage earners improve under the VIP government make any needful significant changes in the life of minimum wage earners, if the VIP government was to retain cabinet leadership coming next general elections?
How the above three questions will be respond to will determine the level of common sense the minimum wage earners, and many other have coming next general elections base on their decision.
Finally, our officials realize, that upward living wages, must be realized, by the least of us, in this territory!