KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Minimum Wage Advisory Commission has invited the Tambourine Army and WE-Change to make submissions on the increase of the current minimum wage at the Ministry of Labour’s, 1F North Street, Kingston office tomorrow.

In their written submission, the advocacy groups asked for the current minimum wage to be increased to $7,000 per week on condition that the Government of Jamaica undertakes a Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) Initiative at $20,000 per month for people affected by poverty.

The groups in a release said this would mean employed Jamaicans would have a monthly income of at least $48,000, while unemployed Jamaicans (including people between jobs, new graduates, retirees, severely injured people etc) would have a Guaranteed Minimum Income of $20,000 per month.

They believe this proposal will also ensure that Jamaica fulfils its commitment to the sustainable development goal of poverty eradication, and to ensure that Jamaica becomes a secure, cohesive and just society for all, in keeping with the National Development Plan.

The Tambourine Army and WE-Change recommendations are as follows:

1. Implement a $20,000 monthly Guaranteed Minimum Income for people 18 years and older who earn $0 to $500,000 per annum.

2. Create a registration mechanism that will facilitate the application process by Jamaicans who qualify for Guaranteed Minimum Income, which should be linked to their Tax Registration Number (TRN) or the new proposed National Identification System.

3. Reduce the income tax rate from 25 per cent to 20 per cent to support the implementation of the Guaranteed Minimum Income, and introduce a two per cent Guaranteed Minimum Income corporate tax that will be collected and deposited into a Guaranteed Minimum Income Fund from which the monthly Guaranteed Minimum Income will be paid.

4. Create a Guaranteed Minimum Income Fund and establish legal guidelines that will outline the purpose for which the Fund can be used, to ensure it is used only for the intended purpose and does not become a part of the Consolidated Fund.

5. Increase the minimum wage by 12.91 per cent to bring it to a total of $7,000/week.

6. Increase the penalty for employers who breach the Minimum Wage Act from $100 to $100,000, and an additional $20,000/day (up from $20/day) until restitution has been made to the employee, and the employer is compliant.