The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) has welcomed the announcement by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector Colin Jordan of a new national minimum wage and a revised hourly rate for security guards, saying it reflected Government’s commitment made when wages were last adjusted in June 2025.
In a statement, CTUSAB noted that “Government at that time promised a further two per cent increase as of January 2026, thus, effectively establishing a new general rate of $10.71 per hour and that of $11.66 per hour for security guards.”
The trade union body said its position on wage increases had been consistent. It recalled comments made by its president, Ryan Phillips, at a press conference on May 13, 2025, following the proposal of a new minimum wage earlier that year.
At the time, Phillips said: “It is to be expected that any upward adjustment in the minimum wage would enable the most vulnerable to have access to the decent living wage.”
CTUSAB said that statement underscored its support for increases in both the national minimum wage and sectoral wage rates. However, it stressed that wage adjustments must be closely linked to the rising cost of living.
“The institution has stated that it maintains that an increase in the minimum or sectoral wage must bear a relation to the escalating cost of living, that is simply borne out in the high food prices, the cost of goods, services, health care, utilities, transport and doing business,” the statement said.
CTUSAB argued that Government’s recent economic performance should allow for more substantial wage increases for vulnerable workers.
“CTUSAB contends that given the declaration made by the Government that it realised a bounty in the last financial year and, moreover, that it has recorded 17 consecutive quarters of economic growth, this should position the Government to be able to share a greater piece of pie with vulnerable workers.”
According to the union body, there is a disconnect between Government’s fiscal claims and the level of wage increases.
“Government’s share of the economic pie is therefore inconsistent with its pronouncements of its fiscal performance, which speaks to both surpluses in both the overall and primary balance.
“This, along with the claim of a strong economic performance as this relates to GDP growth, leads to an expectation that the Government can provide a more realistic increase in the national minimum wage rate,” CTUSAB said.
The organisation also pointed to the wider public sector, adding: “It is now left to be seen how the Government will treat to rewarding the public officers of Barbados, who have been tasked with doing the heavy lifting, towards ensuring the restoration of the economic and fiscal stability of Barbados.”
(PR)
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