Minimum wage up for public discussion
(CNS): Following well-over a year of closed-door discussion and only written consultations, the broader public is now being given the chance to contribute to the minimum wage debate and help shape the final outcome for the introduction of a basic wage below which no person should be required to work.
Many believe that the introduction of a national minimum wage will prevent the exploitation of very low paid overseas workers and elevate wages at the bottom end of the pay scales but it has proved a long battle for supporters to get the political support required. Although the PPM has long expressed support for a basic wage, it too has struggled to find the political will to press the issue forward, even though it formed part of the party’s election campaign promise.
The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee was established at the end of 2013 but it has taken a considerable time to research the issues. With its report expected to go to Cabinet at the end of this month, the public is being given a window of opportunity to have their say with a series of district meetings.
So far the committee has held closed-door focus groups with employers, employees, young people, domestic workers and the unemployed.
There were online surveys for members of the public to complete and the committee contracted the services of the Economics and Statistics Office to carry out the necessary fieldwork to ensure that a reputable sample size was received on the surveys. The committee also accepted written submissions from the public via email or post, and they have made several media appearances to encourage members of the public to have their say on the topic of a minimum wage for the Cayman Islands.
The committee said this final round of public consultation through hosting district meetings was fulfilling its promise to allow everyone to have their say.
The meetings will begin in Cayman Brac in the Layman Scott High School Hall on Saturday 7 February at 4pm. All members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting in their district. See schedule below.
Category: Jobs, Local News
Yes in Cayman you put your head above water and your career will be stopped dead in its tracks or you will not have your contract renewed.
There will be exemptions as usual for those who need this the most like domestic workers. But they can’t even enforce the pension law or healthcare, so this will be little difference. Any expat who has the nerve to getting under the minimum wage will be ejected from the island before it can go to court.
No one is holding you back from investing in any funds for your retirement, but the way the pension was forced on the people of these islands is unjust. Just lay off the issue, no small business can afford this BS. lets see how much those financial institutions care about your retirement, let the Government run this social security, invest in secured bonds. Then you will see how much they care. It is the government’s responsibility to care for the citizens of these islands, when they retire, after all, we pay some damn high taxes already.
Investing in funds? How much is the minimum fund investment?
The vast majority of employers already pay at a rate that is likely being discussed. The reason why this will never pass is all the Caymanian families and what they pay their housekeepers and gardeners.
Minimum wage serve only one purpose, buys votes for politicians, and the costs increase goes to the public and private sector.
I am a voter. I work above minimum wage. My vote is ‘for sale’ to the politicians who will make sure that the people being underpaid, most of whom can’t vote, get a minimum wage.
You’re going to need to buy my vote back somehow after selling WB Road this week.
Initiating a minimum wage will drive up the price of everything. Do we want higher prices in our stores, in our construction, in our services, etc,? The money for higher wages has to come from somewhere. It isn’t free! It costs too much to live here already.
The good businesses/people are already paying above minimum. So, yes, as a moral issue I do want higher costs in/for the bad employers. And I will pay that price as a consumer. But I do not believe you that it will drive up all prices. I bet you can’t point to a single price I currently pay that a $5 per hour wage will drive up.
The money will come from the oligarchy, the ones that living like kings on the hill, we are not fools, we can see which businesses that are enriching themselves by paying slave wages to the unprivileged. That’s always the excuse, “It will run the cost of doing business up” sure it will, just like the cost of a barrel of oil went to 120 dollars, now they paying 48 dollars a barrel and they fail to drop the prices to compare with cheep oil. Its called greed!
You know maybe you’re right. Maybe we could just give people a bowl of rice and see if prices will go down.
People talk about taxes but it’s your choice how much you pay. You choose how much you want to spend. It’s not like the rest of the world where it is based on income .
minimum wage not required….lazy locals won’t work for a minimum wage….