The Government of Dominica announces a revised national minimum wage structure to take effect on December 1, 2025.
Following the announcement in the Budget Address of July, 2025, the Government appointed a Minimum Wage Advisory Board comprising representatives from the public and private sectors, employer groups and trade unions. The Board undertook a detailed analysis of current labour market realities and the prevailing average wage levels within the OECS. Dominica’s minimum wage structure was last reviewed in 2021.
Following the comprehensive review, and pursuant to the Labour Standards (Minimum Wage) Order, 2025, the Cabinet has approved the revised minimum wage rates as follows:
| Occupation/Category | 2021 Rate (EC$) | 2025 Approved Rate (EC$) | Change (EC$) | Percentage Change % |
| Workers and Labourers in the agricultural sector | $7.50/hr | $9.75/hr | $2.25 | 30% |
| Daily paid workers (Factory, tourism and manufacturing) | $7.50/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.50 | 20% |
| Cashiers/Receptionists | $7.25/hr | $9.42/hr | $2.17 | 30% |
| Sales Persons/Cashiers | $7.25/hr | $9.42/hr | $2.17 | 30% |
| Home Assistants (with meals) | $200.00/wk | $240.00/wk | $40.00/wk | 20% |
| Home Assistants (without meals) | $250.00/wk | $300.00/wk | $50.00/wk | 20% |
| Home Assistants (Live-in) | $220.00/wk | $264.00/wk | $44.00 | 20% |
| Cooks | $7.25/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.75 | 24% |
| Bar Tenders | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Servers | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Room Attendants | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Groundsmen | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Public Area Attendants | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Vehicle Drivers/Messengers | $7.50/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.50 | 20% |
| Security Guards | $8.00/hr | $9.60/hr | $1.60 | 20% |
| Janitors/Sanitization Workers | $7.24/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.76 | 24% |
| Other unskilled workers (e.g. Labourers in the construction industry, handymen) | $7.50/hr | $9.00/hr | $1.50 | 24% |
The updated rates are intended to ensure a more equitable wage structure, strengthen household incomes and enhance social protection, especially for low-income workers. The Government of Dominica reiterates its commitment to ensuring that all workers operate within a labour market environment which supports their wellbeing and long-term economic security.
Like Lazarus the fake Labour power has resurrected.Fake Labour power,the minimum wage was increased in Dominica from September 1st 2021.You cannot fool Dominicans with your BULL,one year later December 2022,to avoid another humiliation UWP boycotted the election.
What’s this? What can you do with the money? I support the government, but this is total crap. It does not keep up with the price increases.
this will not make Dominica great….business will just padd it on….so goods will just be much more expensive…that’s it… the working class will now not see what they worked for…worse off now…idiots ….who really do give advice to skerrit?….they are much foolisher than him….markack……
his big buddy gonsalvesin st vincent get a beating so now he coming with this to try and bribe the little man to try and stay in power
what about retired persons or those receiving social security benefits who are living on their meagre wages and in their old age ?. I cant believe there is no increase for these less fortunate people facing the incredible cost of living index in Dominica.
In these tough economic times with the continuous rise in the cost of living, one would have to be an expert magician to live on such low minimum wages.
The raise in the minimum raise on the surface seems !One a noble thing to do. However, to make this negligible increase mean something to the targeted workers, government must put measures in place to curb the arbitrary price hike by many unscrupulous business owners.
Here is my concern. Most business owners are not going to absorb this increase in wages. They will therefore saddled the consumers with the extra increase in layout by raising the cost of their goods. Consequently, the workers hardly gain anything. Again, strict measures of price control especially on everyday consumables must be put in place. It should be a balancing act as the struggling businesses should also realise a profit.
it’s private. You cannot control the price on the private sector unless the goods are something that run through the government regulated supply, like sugar, gas etc. If the business owners set a high price, that is their gamble, and if no one buys it’s their failure. it’s a free market. The problems here are that:
1. food prices have been increasing globally since the Ukraine war because of resource shortages leading to expensive manufacturing. Only locally produced good can somewhat resist this.
2: Some businesses are barely turning profit. 100k gross can be made, but the wage increase is against the profit margin only. Unless the underlying performance of the economy is addressed, a wage increase is double-edged sword. I will not mention how the economy can be helped, because Dominica is to deep in politics. It is just food for arguement.
Ego/egotism as a concept does not deal in substance it deals in being superior, emotional appeals and rejecting reason other than in pretense.
Too many people will fall for Ibo’s(ego’s) pandering words and will find his pretense appealing.
Consistently, raising the minimum wage usually leads to more inflation. The business owner is not just Astaphans or Whitchurch, the sidewalk vendor and small shops are far more likely to impulsively raise their prices. Getting 100% + profit on one sale is a Dominican past time. I’m certain there will be those who will pay their helpers/workers especially Haitians and “Spanish” less than minimum wage and still raise their prices.
Price controls as a reactionary measure do not work they need to be very well thought out and implemented. If cost of labour is too high then people will fire staff (this is difficult in Dominica) so they will freeze new hires or find ways to pay less overhead to survive.
Authoritarian economic approaches are not viable.