Minimum wage in Barbados to increase to BB$10.50 per hour on June 1
Key Points(5)
- Barbados’ lowest-paid workers are set to receive a boost in their earnings, with the national minimum wage rising from BB$8.50 (US$4.25) to BB$10.50 (US$5.25) per hour starting June 1.
- The announcement was made by Minister of Labour Colin Jordan during the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) annual May Day Family Fun Day at Pool Woods in St John.
- Jordan said the wage increase is part of the government’s broader commitment to improving the lives of low-income earners amid growing concerns about the rising cost of living.
- He confirmed that the necessary legal order for the increase has already been drafted and will also include a proportional hike for security officers under the sectoral minimum wage.
- The minister also announced several other major labour reforms slated for June 1, including the introduction of paternity leave and an extension of maternity leave.
Barbados’ lowest-paid workers are set to receive a boost in their earnings, with the national minimum wage rising from BB$8.50 (US$4.25) to BB$10.50 (US$5.25) per hour starting June 1.
The announcement was made by Minister of Labour Colin Jordan during the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) annual May Day Family Fun Day at Pool Woods in St John.
Jordan said the wage increase is part of the government’s broader commitment to improving the lives of low-income earners amid growing concerns about the rising cost of living. He confirmed that the necessary legal order for the increase has already been drafted and will also include a proportional hike for security officers under the sectoral minimum wage.
“It is our intention that on June 1…the national minimum wage will be increased, so that those at the very bottom—those who work hard, but are at the bottom of the earning level—will have an opportunity to have their wages raised to a level that allows them to keep paying with raising prices,” Jordan told the crowd.
The minister also announced several other major labour reforms slated for June 1, including the introduction of paternity leave and an extension of maternity leave. Under the new provisions, maternity leave will increase from 12 to 14 weeks for single births and up to 17 weeks for multiple births. The BWU had already negotiated paternity leave in some companies, but the new measures will make it standard across the board.
In addition, Jordan highlighted the government’s efforts to improve employment prospects for persons with disabilities. With over 90 per cent of disabled individuals currently unemployed, the Job Start Plus programme—introduced in the national budget—will provide training for those up to age 34 to enhance their employability.
“We believe that people with disabilities ought to have the opportunity to have decent work, to live, to earn, to support themselves and to support their families,” he said.
Jordan also revealed that Barbados is partnering with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), trade unions, and employers to develop a Decent Work Country Programme. This initiative, expected to launch mid-year, will focus on strengthening labour rights and workplace conditions across the island.
He closed by reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights: “Protection and production go together,” he said.
The May Day event, part of the BWU’s Labour Day activities, was held under the “We Gatherin’” banner and marked the first celebration of its kind in the parish of St John.
