Jamaica approves minimum wage increase to J$17,000 per week
Key Points(5)
- Jamaica’s national minimum wage will increase by J$1,000 per week to J$17,000 (approximately US$107) effective July 1, 2026, as the Government moves to provide additional support for the country’s lowest-paid workers.
- The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Order, 2026 and the Minimum Wage (Industrial Security Guards) (Amendment) Order, 2026, paving the way for the increase from the current J$16,000 (approximately US$101) per 40-hour work week.
- Exchange rates indicate that J$17,000 is equivalent to about US$107.
- Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr, who led the debate on the resolutions, urged employers to view the new wage as a starting point rather than a target.
- “The minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling.
Jamaica’s national minimum wage will increase by J$1,000 per week to J$17,000 (approximately US$107) effective July 1, 2026, as the Government moves to provide additional support for the country’s lowest-paid workers.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Order, 2026 and the Minimum Wage (Industrial Security Guards) (Amendment) Order, 2026, paving the way for the increase from the current J$16,000 (approximately US$101) per 40-hour work week. Exchange rates indicate that J$17,000 is equivalent to about US$107.
Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr, who led the debate on the resolutions, urged employers to view the new wage as a starting point rather than a target.
“The minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling. I call on employers, especially those who can afford to do more, to invest in their workforce and to go beyond the minimum where circumstances permit. Let us move from compliance to genuine appreciation,” Charles Jr said.
Under the new rates, the standard hourly wage will rise from J$400 (US$2.53) to J$425 (US$2.69) per hour during a regular 40-hour work week. Overtime pay will increase from J$600 (US$3.80) to J$637.50 (US$4.04) per hour for work exceeding 40 hours in a week, while double-time or premium pay for work performed on rest days or public holidays will increase from J$800 (US$5.07) to J$850 (US$5.39) per hour.
Industrial security guards will also benefit from the increase, with the sector’s minimum wage rising to J$17,000 per week. Charles Jr noted that security guards will continue to receive their existing allowances and benefits.
“This increase in minimum wage represents a reaffirmation of this Government’s commitment to Jamaica’s workers. It acknowledges the invaluable contributions of those who care for our children, support our households, protect our properties, and help drive economic activity across the country,” the minister told Parliament.
Charles Jr said the Government recognizes the financial challenges facing minimum wage earners and has sought to steadily improve earnings over the past decade. He noted that the minimum wage has increased from J$6,200 (about US$39) in 2016 to J$17,000 (about US$107) this year, nearly tripling over the period.
“As a Government we do continue to increase the floor we have in order to better provide opportunity for those workers to be able to meet their daily expenses,” he said.
