The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be holding its first consultation on the national minimum wage as well as the minimum wage for industrial security guards, next week Wednesday.

The ministry said that in its drive to promote public involvement on the National Minimum Wage, it would be holding a series of consultations during the months of October and November.

The consultations are expected to have bearing on what increases the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission will recommend to the minister. The consultation, the ministry said, is to give stakeholders from across the island an opportunity to make representation before the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission.

Begins on Wednesday

The first consultation will be held on Wednesday, October 18 at the Mandeville Baptist Church Hall in Manchester for the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon. The second will be held on November 20 at the St. Paul's United Church in Montego Bay for the parishes of Hanover, Westmore-land, Trelawny and St. James.

For the parishes of St. Ann, Portland and St. Mary, the consultation will be held on November 23 at the Hibiscus Hotel in St. Ann, while consultation for the parishes of St. Andrew, St. Thomas and St. Catherine is to be announced.

The minimum wage, which affects more than 200,000 Jamaicans, was last increased from $2,400 to $2,800 in January. An increase in minimum wage was also granted to industrial security guards, which saw their wages moving from $3,600 to $4,140 for a 40-hour work week.