Antigua: PM Gaston Browne assures to increase pay scale of public sector workers by 14%

Antigua and Barbuda: The public sector of Antigua will experience a rise of about 14 percent, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda – Gaston Browne, announced.

The Prime Minister, who also serves as the Minister of Finance of the nation, has assured the people in the public sector that their salaries will be increased by 14 percent after the implementation of the next budget cycle, 2024-2025.

This approval was given by PM Browne on September 1, 2023 (Friday). This announcement was made during an interview with journalists. Amid the interaction, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda highlighted that this is an important step taken by the government and will directly impact the wage boost for public employees.

In addition to this, it was highlighted that this decision to increase the wages of the public sector employees will directly contribute towards the positive development and upgradation of the nation, especially its public sector.

PM Gaston Browne further highlighted that this step will also showcase the commitment of the government to enhance the financial well-being of its employees in the upcoming fiscal year.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is prominently known to increase the weekly or daily wages of its employees, providing them a better place to work and grow.

Earlier, in late late-2022, the Labour Party of Antigua and Barbuda (ABLP) amended the daily wage regulations and announced that the minimum hourly wage would increase up to EC$9. The wages were increased from EC$8.20 per hour or EC$328.00 per week (40-hour work week).

This decision was taken by the ABLP during a cabinet meeting with the National Minimum Wage Commission. This meeting was scheduled to cover the recent report on wages and salaries across the twin islands of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Cabinet shared its decision with the general public and noted, “After a lengthy and vigorous debate, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that the minimum wages will be increased to EC$9.00 per hour from EC$8.20 percent for the workers of the public sector.”

It is to be noted that this decision was announced by the Cabinet of the twin-island Caribbean country amid the times when the world was dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and Russia as well as the Ukraine conflict.