Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
The amendment by Don Ceder (ChristenUnie) and Jorien Wuite (D66) to introduce a social minimum in the Caribbean Netherlands as of 1 July 2024 can count on a majority in the House of Representatives.
In recent days, several groups have signed the amendment. These are PvdA/GroenLinks, CDA, SP, Partij voor de Dieren, DENK, and the SP. Together with D66 and ChristenUnie, these parties have 80 seats. This makes next Tuesday’s vote a formality.
For the petitioners Ceder and Wuite it was exciting whether they would receive sufficient support. There were no doubts about the left-wing parties; the key was on the right, with the CDA. What helped was that Minister for Poverty Policy Carola Schouten has hinted that the government is prepared to implement the amendment — if there is sufficient support.
The amendment provides for the statutory minimum wage on the BES islands to be raised on 1 July, 2024 to the social minimum recommended by the Thode Committee. Eur 4.2 million will be allocated for this purpose. Another $4.2 million is available to compensate employers for the higher staff costs resulting from the increase in the statutory minimum wage to $1,750.
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how much is the hourly minimum wage now and how much will it be on July first?
I don’t understand $1,750…
Remember we’re dealing with politicians here, many of whom have never lived in the real world. My understanding is $1750 is the minimum monthly wage you will be paid if you are full time employed. I understand your concern, an hourly wage would be helpful. My best guess is based on a 40 hour work week, so the hourly would be $10.94. Hope this helps…
a lot of people don’t work exactly 40 hours a week or 160 hours a month… maybe in February but not others. Besides the average person will not remember $10.94 an hour. $1,760 would be $11 an hour!!!! much better!
The math is actually $1750 per month, x 12 months = $21000 per year, divided by 2080 hours per year (52 weeks times 40 hours) = $10,10 per hour.
At this moment the minimal wage per hour is $8.27 ($1,434 per month or $17,208 per year).
By the first of July 2024 this will be raised to $10.09 ($10) an hour ($1,750 per month or $21,000 a year)