by Global News Staff
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican government is taking a drastic action against persons who fail to comply with the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA), especially since the minimum wage is moderate in the light of the high cost of living.
The country’s lawmakers on Friday amended the NMWA to increase the minimum fine from $1,000 to $1 million (US$11,800) or one year’s imprisonment, or both fine and jail time.
The Jamaica Observer reported that all the senators voted in favour of the amendment.
Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, said the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill 2010 was tabled in January 2011 “in order to facilitate the increase in fines and penalties payable for breaches of the provision of the National Minimum Wage Order and the Minimum Wage Industrial Security Guards Order.”
Lightbourne, who is also Attorney General, said the industrial security guards receive particular attention because the wages they receive are unreasonable.
She also disclosed that the labour minister has the right to increase the wage ceiling, which is the lowest level at which someone can be paid.
