WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda moving from minimum wage to $2,100 monthly livable wage, PM says

Browne signals shift to ‘livable wage’ as government targets higher earnings

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government is moving beyond the concept of a minimum wage toward what he described as a “livable wage,” as part of broader efforts to improve workers’ standard of living.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne show, Browne said the recent increase in the minimum wage from $9 to $11.50 represents a significant step, but stressed that further adjustments are planned.

“We’re now moving away from the concept of a minimum wage to a livable wage,” Browne said, noting that the increase marks one of the largest percentage jumps for low-income earners in the country’s history.

He said the government intends to raise the wage to about $13 per hour within the next one to two years, before making additional adjustments aimed at achieving a livable income.

“In other words, we will get up to about maybe $2,100 a month minimum wage,” Browne said, describing that level as a more sustainable baseline for workers.

The Prime Minister said the approach must be gradual to avoid unintended consequences for small businesses and employment levels, noting that sharp increases could place strain on sectors with thin profit margins.

He acknowledged that some workers believe wages should rise more quickly, with calls for rates in the $15 to $20 per hour range, but said the government must balance those expectations with economic realities.

Browne added that the policy is part of a wider effort to ensure that economic gains are shared more equitably, while still encouraging workers to pursue skills and upward mobility.

He said the administration remains committed to improving wages over time, while maintaining stability across businesses and the wider economy.

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