BWU welcomes 2% minimum wage hike

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) has welcomed what it called “the Government’s continued movement on the national minimum wage”, including the proposed adjustment scheduled for January 2026, describing it as part of a long-signalled effort to protect the lowest-paid workers as living costs rise.

General Secretary Toni Moore said the announcement did not come as a surprise, noting that the BWU has consistently advocated for steady, responsible increases that safeguard workers’ dignity and reduce hardship.

“As we said in our 2025 mantra, ‘Bet Who Bet You’, the BWU is committed to delivering both immediate relief and long-term upliftment for working people. We invite workers to keep holding us accountable to that promise,” Moore said, adding that a stronger minimum wage remained “one of the most practical ways to protect dignity at work, reduce hardship, and give families a fairer shot at stability.”

She emphasised that minimum wage reform is a process requiring both a clear destination and a realistic pathway.

“You may want everything at once, but responsible progress requires a defined finishing line and a strategy to reach it,” Moore said. “The BWU has been central to that strategy from the start — pushing, negotiating, and partnering where necessary to secure fairer wages for Barbadian workers.”

She added that the union will continue its work within the Social Partnership and through its representation on the Minimum Wage Board to monitor the real-world impact of the adjustments.

“Where the evidence shows that stronger or faster increases are needed to protect workers’ dignity and purchasing power, the BWU will be ready to press for more,” she said.