KINGSTON, Jamaica–With the national minimum wage set to increase by $1,000 per week to $17,000 effective July I, 2026, Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr is urging employers to pay more if they are able to do so. “The minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling. I call on employers, especially those who can afford to do more, to invest in their workforce and to go beyond the minimum where circumstances permit.