What is the Minimum Wage in Jamaica?

In March 2023, the Jamaican government announced a 44% increase in the minimum wage scheduled to take effect on June 1st, 2023. The new minimum wage in Jamaica will move to $13,000 JMD per 40-hour work week, from $9,000 per week.

The previous increase was granted one year earlier in February 2022, when the government announced a 28.5% increase in the minimum wage from $7,000 JMD to $9000 JMD for a 40-hour work week. The latest increase follows calls by some private sector employers that they were finding it difficult to fill some vacancies as applicants were not enthusiastic about the low salaries. (source: Jamaica Observer, July 29, 2022)

At the exchange rate of JM$152 to US$1, the new minimum wage amounts to US$85.51. For comparison, the federal minimum wage in the United States in 2023 was $7.25 or $290 for a 40-hour work week. (source: minimum-wage.org) 

Under the law, all persons employed in Jamaica should not be paid less than the amount stipulated as minimum wage. It is however, a guideline for employers and companies that can afford to pay more are encouraged to match salaries in their respective industries.

The minimum wage in Jamaica is reviewed periodically and a committee of the Ministry of Labour gives its recommendations to the government. Compliance with Jamaica’s minimum wage is monitored by the Ministry of Labour with officers empowered to visit places of employment to ensure the law is being followed. The MOL also provides a customer and advisory service for employed persons to make complaints regarding their employment or termination and to employers on the requirement of the Law in dealing with workers’ entitlements and conditions of services.