Juta Tour Drivers Scam

[M&G Montreal]

I will count on CaptainD to correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that the minimum wage in Jamaica is $55/wk, with no specification for the hours or days worked. And certainly no benefits. Where I come from, a beer is waaaay more than $5 ... for local brew.

I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone any kickback from a $5 beer in a tropical paradise that I flew to on an airplane; headed to a cushy resort to escape the cold winters where I live.

I strongly recommend you go help out at St. Anthony's kitchen; you may see a side of our lovely island you have been insulated from.

They're not ripping you off. They're just trying to get dinner for their family for another night. Or keep their kids in school for another term. The life we are priviledged to lead in Negril is not what most Jamaicans lead.

There are real scams in Jamaica (and Montreal, Toronto, New York) that are laid out for tourists. One does have to be careful. But a crummy $5 for a beer? Budget it in for your next trip. 99% of the Jamaicans cannot even dream of budgeting for a trip like that!

I hope you left a tip!

[Rob]

...it is my understanding that the minimum wage in Jamaic..a is $55/wk, with no specification for the hours or days worked. And certainly no benefits. Where I come from, a beer is waaaay more than $5 ... for local brew..

M&G,

As I wrote back January, here are the facts about the minimum wages, overtime, holiday, benefits, etc. requirements that all Jamaican employers, including myself, must follow:

"To set some matters straight and let the truth be known, raises in the minimum wages in Jamaica this century alone has seen the minimum wage increase in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. I am not agreeing with the amount of the wages, just setting the record straight.

http://www.lmis.gov.jm/lmis.aspx?id=...inimum%20Wages


http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ne...-effect-today-


There are rules and regulations for all manners of pay including overtime, holiday, vacation and gratuity payments. These are laws that all employers must follow. If an employee states something different, then perhaps they are unaware or have some other reason to not let you know the facts.


http://www.mlss.gov.jm/download/HolidayPay.pdf


http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/projects/...ica_act5.shtml


Some basic guidelines for all Jamaican employers can be found at:


http://www.jamaicatax.gov.jm/index.p...ployer-s-guide


As a business owner in Jamaica, I have had to keep abreast of these laws and make sure that they are followed."