By Lloyd Small
Minimum wages comparatively paid to Agricultural Workers during the NDP and ULP’s years in Government.
The NDP from July, 1984-March, 2001
Wages moved from $10.40 and $7.80 per day to $18.00 per day, respectively:
July, 1984-November, 1989:
- *$10.40 for an 8-hour day ($1.30 per hour- male)
- *$7.80 for an 8-hour day (98 cents per hour- female)
*Note: These wages were implemented by the St. Vincent Labour
Party in 1982.
December 1989-March, 2001:
- $18.00 for an 8-hour day for sheltered workers ($2.25 per hour)
- $18.00 for a 6-hour day for unsheltered workers ($3.00 per hour)
The ULP from March, 2001-October, 2020
Wages moved from $18.00 per day to $40.00 and $36.00 per day, respectively:
March, 2001-March, 2003:
- *$18.00 for an 8-hour day for sheltered workers ($2.25 per hour)
- *$18.00 for a 6-hour day for unsheltered workers ($3.00 per hour)
* Note: These wages were implemented by the New Democratic
Party in 1989.
April, 2003-June, 2008:
- $25.00 for an 8-hour day for sheltered workers ($3.12 per hour)
- $25.00 for a 6-hour day for unsheltered workers ($4.16 per hour)
- $25.00 for a 5-hour day for workers in hazardous conditions ($5.00
per hour)
July, 2008-March, 2017:
- $32.00 for an 8-hour day for sheltered workers ($4.00 per hour)
- $30.00 for a 6-hour day for unsheltered workers ($5.00 per hour)
- $35.00 for a 5-hour day for workers in hazardous conditions ($7.00
per hour)
April, 2017-October, 2020:
- *$40.00 for an 8-hour day for sheltered workers ($500 per hour)
- *$36.00 for a 6-hour day for unsheltered workers ($6.00 per hour)
- *$40.00 for a 5-hour day for workers in hazardous conditions
($8.00 (per hour)
*Note: These wages were implemented on the 27th April, 2017.
The NDP increased minimum wages once in seventeen (17)
years.
The ULP increased minimum wages three (3) times in
twenty (20) years.
A recommendation was sent to the last government (ULP) to increase the wages within a year or two from now!!
