Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has suggested that it may be time to reassess the Territory’s minimum wage, arguing that economic conditions have shifted since the Government’s earlier studies were conducted.
Penn made the comments recently during the Talking Points radio programme after a caller asked whether he could press Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley for another increase.
“Well, he [Premier] did say at one point that he would raise the minimum wage gradually, and he did promise a further increase,” Penn said, adding that he believed six months had elapsed since that commitment.
Penn also took a swipe at the Premier, claiming that he “seems to not be aware of a lot of things these days”.
When asked whether an increase would be wise in the current economic climate, Penn said the Government should be guided by its own research and consultations with the business community.
“You have to go off of the Premier’s own study,” he said. “There were several studies that were done, and it looked at what the market could bear and what the economy could bear.”
According to Penn, one of the assessments considered a minimum wage of up to $10 per hour.
“If persons were contracted or enlisted to do these assessments and have done the assessments, and this is what came out of conversations with the business community in terms of what they feel is fair and what they could bear, I think we should follow those studies and respect the decision,” he said.
However, Penn argued that the earlier findings may no longer fully reflect the Territory’s economic realities.
“I think things have shifted and changed since the study was done, and you might need to do a reassessment,” he stated.
The Territory’s minimum wage increased from $6 to $7.25 per hour on July 1, 2025. The Government said the adjustment would be implemented through a phased approach recommended by the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.
The Government had initially approved an increase to $8.50 per hour, which was expected to take effect in November 2024, but that move was halted following concerns from employers and the wider public.
Premier Wheatley has since defended the decision to settle on $7.25, saying critics had portrayed him as the “bad guy” because they wanted the rate increased to $11 or $15 per hour.
He argued that the Government had to balance the needs of low-paid workers with the ability of businesses to absorb higher payroll costs, warning that a steep increase could lead to layoffs or business closures.
Penn made the comments recently during the Talking Points radio programme after a caller asked whether he could press Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley for another increase.
“Well, he [Premier] did say at one point that he would raise the minimum wage gradually, and he did promise a further increase,” Penn said, adding that he believed six months had elapsed since that commitment.
Penn also took a swipe at the Premier, claiming that he “seems to not be aware of a lot of things these days”.
When asked whether an increase would be wise in the current economic climate, Penn said the Government should be guided by its own research and consultations with the business community.
“You have to go off of the Premier’s own study,” he said. “There were several studies that were done, and it looked at what the market could bear and what the economy could bear.”
According to Penn, one of the assessments considered a minimum wage of up to $10 per hour.
“If persons were contracted or enlisted to do these assessments and have done the assessments, and this is what came out of conversations with the business community in terms of what they feel is fair and what they could bear, I think we should follow those studies and respect the decision,” he said.
However, Penn argued that the earlier findings may no longer fully reflect the Territory’s economic realities.
“I think things have shifted and changed since the study was done, and you might need to do a reassessment,” he stated.
The Territory’s minimum wage increased from $6 to $7.25 per hour on July 1, 2025. The Government said the adjustment would be implemented through a phased approach recommended by the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.
The Government had initially approved an increase to $8.50 per hour, which was expected to take effect in November 2024, but that move was halted following concerns from employers and the wider public.
Premier Wheatley has since defended the decision to settle on $7.25, saying critics had portrayed him as the “bad guy” because they wanted the rate increased to $11 or $15 per hour.
He argued that the Government had to balance the needs of low-paid workers with the ability of businesses to absorb higher payroll costs, warning that a steep increase could lead to layoffs or business closures.
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