Quality of Life Has Improved Since 1995
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
Janaury 06, 2009 (CUOPM)
Significant hikes in the minimum wage and pensions have led to an improvement in the quality of life of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says a further increase in the minimum pension is expected during 2009.
Dr. Douglas said government was also looking seriously at the implementation of a short-term unemployment benefit scheme.
He said true to its overarching mandate to protect the poor and vulnerable in the society, the governing St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, since taking office in 1995, has raised the minimum wage by over 150 percent to its current level of EC $320.00 (US $120.00) per week and the minimum pension paid by social security has been increased by 66 percent.
“We will increase the minimum pension even further during the New Year, and we intend to proceed with the necessary actuarial evaluation to guide the design of a short-term unemployment benefit scheme that would bring relief to workers during short periods of unemployment,” said Prime Minister Douglas.