The Minimum Wage Advisory Commission will be meeting this week to analyse submissions made by the public, which will assist in its review of the national minimum wage and the minimum wage of industrial security guards.

Speaking at the final regional consultation on the national minimum wage and minimum wage for industrial security guards, chairman of the Commission, Silvera Castro, noted that the support received so far from the public has been good.

utmost importance

"We will be looking at the economic situation of the country, because that is important too, and to ensure that we arrive at a good balance for both the employer and the employee, because the survival of both is of utmost importance to us," Castro said.

He also informed that after the committee makes its submission to the Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier, the minister will then make his submission to Cabinet, after which a final decision will be made.

The final regional consultation was held on July 5, at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, on North Street.

In his contribution at the consultation, president of the Jamaica Society for Industrial Security (JSIS), Commander George Overton, said that during the last round of increases in February 2011, there was an erosion of margins within the industry.

He noted that it was based on this that the "JSIS is recommending to this Commission that we do not consider an increase at this point in time." The national minimum wage was last increased in February 2011, moving from $4,070 to $4,500 per 40-hour work week, while that of security guards moved from $6,050 to $6,655.