Minimum Standards.

The Government has the power to fix minimum wages by Ministerial Orders. This power is given by section 3 of the Minimum Wages Law . So far the Orders issued cover the minimum wages of office clerks and shop assistants which presently are CP275,00 per month on engagement.

 

Most offices observe a 40-hour week Monday to Friday. Office hours are from 8.00 to 17.30 with 1 ½ hour lunch during the winter and 8.00 to 19.00 with 3 hours break during the summer. Government offices operate from 7.30 to 14.30 on Monday to Friday. They also open on Thursday afternoons from 15.00 to 18.00.

 

Minimum annual holiday entitlement is 15 days for employees of a five days working week and 18 days for employees of a six days working week. Any entitlements not taken during the year can either be paid or carried forward up to a maximum period of two years.

With respect to public holidays there are no statutory provisions to indicate which days in the year are public holidays except for Sunday. The public holidays given in the private sector are governed by collective agreements between employers and trade unions and they usually follow the public holidays given in the public sector. In cases where the employer is not bound by any collective agreement it is up to his discretion to offer any of the public holidays given in the public sector.

 

One of the island's most valuable resources is its hard-working skilled, well-qualified, versatile and relatively inexpensive Labour force. Despite the very low level of unemployment, a pool of well-qualified professional and secretarial staff fluently in English and other languages is readily available.