The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has taken note of the Prime Minister’s recent statement on the proposed increases in the national minimum wage.

“While we recognise the critical importance of ensuring that Jamaicans earn a fair and sustainable wage, the JHTA strongly urges the Government to engage in meaningful consultation with key stakeholders before finalising any adjustments,” JHTA said in a release to the press.

Tourism accounts for approximately one-third of Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is one of the country’s largest employers.

The JHTA said that any shifts in wage policy will therefore have wide-ranging implications for the sector, including employment levels, competitiveness, and the affordability of the Jamaican tourism product in a highly competitive global marketplace.

The group said that the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission and the law already provide for an established consultative process involving the Government, trade unions, private sector, civil society, and academia.

“We believe this framework must be utilised to ensure transparency, fairness, and balance in decision-making. Failure to follow such a process risks creating economic shocks—not only for businesses but also for workers themselves. Sudden wage increases, without proper dialogue and phased implementation strategies, could inadvertently result in reduced employment opportunities, higher operational costs, and increased prices being passed on to consumers,” the JHTA said.

“The JHTA therefore calls for structured dialogue that fully considers the realities of the tourism sector, the broader economy, and Jamaica’s long-term competitiveness. Decisions of this magnitude must be grounded in collaboration, data-driven analysis, and transparency to ensure that policies designed to uplift workers do not inadvertently weaken the industries that sustain them,” it added.