Effective July 1,  the minimum wage will be increased from $16,000 to $17,000.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness made the announcement during his budget debate presentation yesterday.

Last year  Dr. Holness promised that the minimum wage would move  from $16,000 to $18,500 with gradual increases planned for the following years.

However, the prime minister acknowledged that the economy is still navigating external shocks following Hurricane Melissa.

As a result, he emphasized that the government believes it is crucial to strike a balance between improving workers’ earnings and addressing the challenges that employers face.