Minister approves small
increase in minimum wage
for all islands
PHILIPSBURG--The Central Government has approved indexation increases of the minimum wage for the five Antillean islands effective January 1, 2006, based on the rate of inflation from August 2004 to August 2005.
However, while in the case of St. Marten the hourly rate for the minimum wage will be increased by 19 cents, for sometime now the Island Government has been seeking approval from the Central Government to increase the hourly rate by NAf. 1.12 – to NAf. 7.47 per hour.
In a statement Thursday, Labour Minister Alex Rosaria said the hourly minimum wage for St. Maarten would be increased from NAf. 6.35 to NAf. 6.54 from January 1.
The hourly wage for Curaçao will be increased from NAf. 5.77 to NAf. 5.98; for Bonaire from NAf. 6.00 to NAf. 6.08; for Saba from NAf. 5.77 to NAf. 5.94; and for Statia from NAf. 5.49 to NAf. 5.65.
In an invited comment Rosaria said the decision had been taken to have the indexation on the minimum wages for all Antillean islands, because it was seen as necessary.
“The last time an indexation was done was in the 1980s. So this is the first time that it has been done in a long time and the law gives us the possibility to do this,” Rosaria said. “I realised that minimum wage earners are a very vulnerable group and considering that it hasn’t been done in a long time the decision was taken a few months back. We have spoken to all the islands and I felt that I had enough support to pass this law.”
Rosaria said the indexation meant that a portion of the increase St. Maarten was requesting for its minimum wage earners would be met. He said the island would have to “substantiate” any additional increase it wanted for its workers by reaching a consensus with all the social partners (see related story).
St Maarten Apartment for vacation rental
