Cayman’s Minimum Wage Committee is now in the process of reviewing community feedback on its recommended wage increase from $6 to $8.75 an hour, which seeks to help improve the lives of low-income workers here.
However, there was no word on what the feedback entailed nor how soon the process will be completed for the ministry to review to decide on the wage increase.
A Labour Ministry spokesperson, following Cayman Compass queries on the progress of the public feedback, said via email that since the report was released in March, the ministry was giving the community a chance to provide their views.
“We did get some public feedback via emails which are now with the Minimum Wage Committee to put together for the Ministry to review,” the spokesperson has said.
The advisory committee, which was chaired by Lemuel Hurlston, held 37 meetings last year and held multiple surveys to gauge the community’s views on whether the islands needed to change its $6 minimum wage, which was introduced eight years ago.
However, when the report was launched last month during a press conference, it was announced that further feedback would be sought.
Labour Ministry Chief Officer Wesley Howell said at the conference that the timeline for further comment on the wage review would be measured “in weeks, not months” and that the feedback gathered will be considered, compiled and put through caucus and on to Cabinet.
Ultimately, the decision on changes to Cayman’s minimum wage and any implementation deadline lies with Cabinet.
No timeline set
The advisory committee’s recommended implementation period was July 2024, but the report’s delivery was behind schedule and as more feedback is being sought, hitting that target will no longer be possible.
Additionally, should there be legislative changes as suggested in the report, that would have to go through the parliamentary process of 28 days for public comment on proposed changes, and then onto debate in the House.
Some changes could be made administratively without needing parliamentary input, but this would depend on the direction that government chooses.
At this stage, it is unclear what direction the long-anticipated changes will take.
The proposed wage – almost a 50% increase on the existing $6 mark – would benefit an estimated 10,457 workers, including more than 2,000 Caymanians.
Compass research revealed recently that Cayman’s national minimum wage is one of the least generous in the developed world when compared with average earnings in other countries.
Even if the minimum wage increases in line with that proposed by the advisory panel, the lowest-paid workers in countries like Turkey, Slovenia, the British Virgin Islands, Romania, Bermuda and Slovakia, would still compare more favourably to average wages in those countries, than Cayman’s lowest-paid employees would with theirs.
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Given the cost of living, Cayman Islands consistently placing in the top 3 most expensive places in the world to live, $8.75 is too low. We need a minimum wage of at least 10.00 CI.
Legislated MW is just another tax on everyone, including MW recipients, a tax we do not want. And a tax that can concievably start snowballing into reduced revenues for the whole island. It removes agency from both people & businesses, the agency, without which it may all begin to crumble, especially during these uncertain times. – if this goes through and the prices react by going 10% up, there will be noone else to blame, but the voters who have let it stand.