The Solomon Islands government is being urged to consult small and medium business enterprises before deciding on a proposal to double the minimum wage.
Photo: ppart/123RF
It has been more than a decade since the last minimum wage review and the government is proposing increasing it from $US50cents to $US1 an hour.
The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week told the Labour Advisory Board, which is carrying out the review, that its members support an increase but want it introduced incrementally over three years.
But the chamber's advocacy officer, John Ta'amora, said most of their members are already paying their employees higher than the proposed new minimum.
He said the government needs to talk to small business owners who are paying at the existing rate.
"I mean the chamber has its own submission but it also [is] considering other parties who will be affected by the minimum wage rate or who have an interest in the minimum wage rate.
"And I do not think this should be something that people will come to a conclusion overnight. I think it is an ongoing discussion for the chamber and for all the other parties involved."