Palau Legal News: Minimum Wage Law Increases Not Being Followed by Employers
Island Times
MONDAY, 08 DECEMBER 2014 18:42
By Jose Rodriguez T. Senase, Reporter
A lawmaker recently wrote Attorney General John Bradley asking about actions taken by his Office regarding complaints on non-compliance of the new minimum wage law. “I have recently heard grievances from some people in the community about businesses that are failing to pay their employees the required minimum wage of $3.00 per hour,” said Senator Phillip Reklai in his letter to Bradley dated November 26, 2014.
Reklai said that in his position as Senator it is not his role to investigate individual businesses’ employment practices, but that he wishes to ensure that the law is being followed. “Under the minimum wage law amended by RPPL No. 9-1, the Attorney General is supposed to investigate wage complaints,” he noted. RPPL No. 9-1 raises the minimum wage to $2.75 (an increase of $0.25 from $2.50) effective October 1, 2013. Every October 1 of each subsequent year, the minimum wage shall be increased by $0.25 until it reaches $3.50 by 2016. The law does not apply to contracts in existence prior to October 1, 2013 but any contract made on or after that date must observe the applicable minimum wage in place at that time.
The increased minimum wage applies to local and foreign employees except those employed as farmers by a single employer, domestic helpers, caretaker, babysitters or house boys, student employees and non-government organization employees, and employees 20 years old or younger and hired on a probationary basis for a period not to exceed 90 days. “Therefore, I am inquiring as to what actions, if any, the Office of the Attorney General is taking to investigate wage claims and ensure that all employees entitled to receive at least the minimum wage are in fact receiving it,” Reklai added. Island Times tried to contact AG Bradley to get his comment on the Senator’s letter, but was told that he was in Court.
MONDAY, 08 DECEMBER 2014 18:42
By Jose Rodriguez T. Senase, Reporter
A lawmaker recently wrote Attorney General John Bradley asking about actions taken by his Office regarding complaints on non-compliance of the new minimum wage law. “I have recently heard grievances from some people in the community about businesses that are failing to pay their employees the required minimum wage of $3.00 per hour,” said Senator Phillip Reklai in his letter to Bradley dated November 26, 2014.
Reklai said that in his position as Senator it is not his role to investigate individual businesses’ employment practices, but that he wishes to ensure that the law is being followed. “Under the minimum wage law amended by RPPL No. 9-1, the Attorney General is supposed to investigate wage complaints,” he noted. RPPL No. 9-1 raises the minimum wage to $2.75 (an increase of $0.25 from $2.50) effective October 1, 2013. Every October 1 of each subsequent year, the minimum wage shall be increased by $0.25 until it reaches $3.50 by 2016. The law does not apply to contracts in existence prior to October 1, 2013 but any contract made on or after that date must observe the applicable minimum wage in place at that time.
The increased minimum wage applies to local and foreign employees except those employed as farmers by a single employer, domestic helpers, caretaker, babysitters or house boys, student employees and non-government organization employees, and employees 20 years old or younger and hired on a probationary basis for a period not to exceed 90 days. “Therefore, I am inquiring as to what actions, if any, the Office of the Attorney General is taking to investigate wage claims and ensure that all employees entitled to receive at least the minimum wage are in fact receiving it,” Reklai added. Island Times tried to contact AG Bradley to get his comment on the Senator’s letter, but was told that he was in Court.