Minister Talks Livable Wage, Maternity Leave and Bi-Weekly Payments

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Right now, the country’s minimum wage is $260 a week, that increase coming in January 2023, the first in a decade.

But a University of The Bahamas study shows that’s nowhere near enough estimating a monthly livable wage at $2,625 in New Providence and $3,550 in Grand Bahama.

For a family of four, the study says middle-class living would require more than $120,000 a year, well above what most households are bringing home.

Labor and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle says government is still working on it.

“That is before the national tripartite council which is the government the employers and the employee confederation,” the minister said.

“That discussion is ongoing. Being benchmark around the world is actually happening globally. We just came back from the ILO in Geneva and there’s still much talk with many countries around the world regarding the implementation of a livable wage; it’s something that countries around the world, including The Bahamas are trying to work towards.”

Still some are asking, just how long will this take?

“We have to look at the sustainability of business for employers – factors that play a part in the determination so I can see where we are in the process or if they are moving in a sluggish way but when they report the reports say that they are working and that is most important.”

There’s also movement on bi-weekly pay for public servants, a change government says will improve cash flow for workers.