No $20 minimum wage: McLeod

Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod said Tuesday the People's partnership government will not raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour.

The minister was speaking at a media briefing following consultations with workers’ organisations in Port-of-Spain.

He told reporters, “Some of your colleagues in the media have been wrongfully ascribing to me and to my People’s Partnership colleagues that a promise of an increase to $20 in minimum wage was made...I never made that promise and I have never heard my colleagues make such a promise.”

Mc Leod reminded the media that some of Trinidad and Tobago's trade unions have called for the $20 minimum wage and others have said it should be $15. “None of those numbers are associated with the consideration of the Minister of Labour,” he said.

However, Mc Leod confirmed the government will increase the minimum wage but did not say by how much.

“In the manifesto we committed to improving the minimum wage as will be found to be appropriate,” he noted.

The minister told reporters the Minimum Wage Board and the ministry have prepared a proposal, which went to Cabinet more than a month ago. He also revealed that he has met with Finance Minister Winston Dookeran to discuss the minimum wage issue.

He urged everyone to wait a few days until the budget presentation on September 8.