Cabinet has confirmed the members of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee (MWAC) and the Committee has begun its work to present recommendations on minimum wage for the Cayman Islands.

The Ministry of Education, Employment & Gender Affairs invited key organisations, service clubs and individuals from both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac to put forward nominations for membership on the committee.

Commenting on the process, Minister for Employment Hon. Tara Rivers stated, “It was important for us to invite nominations from a wide array of organisations so that as many industries and jobs as possible could be represented as a minimum wage is going to affect everyone and every employer. We wanted an equal representation of employers and employees on the committee, and also a committee that is gender-balanced and that recognises the contributions of and challenges related to young people.”

The Committee comprises twelve full members, made up of equal numbers of employers, employees and independent members, including the Chairman. It will also be supported by seven Ex-Officio members from the Civil Service, six who manage key subject areas that would be directly affected by the introduction of a minimum wage, namely Labour & Pensions, Immigration and Gender Affairs, and one who will be Secretary to the committee, assisting with all administrative tasks.

The MWAC will be tasked with investigating the impact to the economy of establishing a minimum wage at various price points and make a recommendation based on their findings as to what is the most appropriate minimum wage or wages for the Cayman Islands.

Working towards an aggressive timeline, the Committee is hoping to present their report of recommendations to Cabinet by October 31st of this year.

The full list of members is as follows:

Independent Representatives:

Mr. Lemuel Hurlston – Chairman

Mr. Nicolas Joseph – Caymanian Bar Association

Mrs. Maria Zingapan – Director, Economics and Statistics Office

Ms. Annette Murphy – University College of the Cayman Islands

Employee Representatives:

Mrs. Andrea Williams – Business and Professional Women’s Club

Mr. Stephen Tatum – Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Representative

Ms. Lauren Langlois – Female Youth Representative

Mr. Pierre Connolly – Male Youth Representative

Employer Representatives:

Mr. Ian Pairaudeau – Cayman Contractor’s Association

Mr. Woody Foster – Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce

Mrs. Ahisha Bodden – Cayman Islands Society of Human Resources Professionals

Mrs. Danielle Wolfe – Cayman Islands Tourism Association

Ex-Officio Members

Mr. Mario Ebanks – Director, Department of Labour and Pensions, or his designate

Mr. Adolphus Laidlow – Senior Economist, Economics and Statistics Office

Ms. Linda Evans – Chief Immigration Officer, Immigration Department, or her designate

Mr. Christen Suckoo – Deputy Chief Officer, MEE&GA (Ministry Liaison)

Mr. Philip Scott, Senior Policy Advisor Human Capital Development, MEE&GA

Ms. Tammy Ebanks, Senior Policy Officer (Gender Affairs), MEE&GA

Mrs. Kimberly Kirkconnell – Policy Analyst, MEE&GA (Secretary)

Photo & Caption:

Minister for Employment Hon. Tara Rivers, JP, Chief Officer for the Ministry of Employment Mrs. Mary Rodrigues, Chairman of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee Mr. Lemuel Hurlston, CVO, MBE, JP with the Members of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee at their first meeting.