Prime Minister Gaston Browne is urging workers to increase productivity, warning that continued wage growth and improved living standards will depend on sustained effort across the workforce.
Speaking at the joint Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) and Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Labour Day rally, Browne said workers must play their part in protecting the gains made in salaries and economic progress.
“You must increase your productivity,” Browne told supporters, adding that workers must also “give a fair day’s pay.”
He said the country’s progress — including rising wages and expanded opportunities — can only be maintained if workers remain committed to performance and output.
“If we’re going to protect the gains that we have made… we must remain productive,” Browne said.
The prime minister’s comments came as he outlined a broader agenda focused on worker empowerment, including continued increases in wages, improved working conditions and expanded access to education and training.
“We continue to increase salaries and wages routinely,” Browne said, noting that his administration remains committed to improving the financial position of workers.
He also pointed to the government’s transition from a minimum wage to a livable wage, describing it as part of a wider effort to ensure that workers can meet their expenses and improve their quality of life.
“We’re also moving from a minimum wage to a livable wage,” he said.
Browne said those gains must be matched by responsibility, stressing that productivity is essential to sustaining economic growth and funding future increases.
“You must increase your productivity so that we continue to increase earnings… so that you can enjoy living standards of the second to none,” he said.
He also encouraged workers to take advantage of opportunities being created through government programmes, including education and skills training initiatives designed to improve employability and upward mobility.
“We are creating the opportunity ecosystem… for every single resident… to thrive,” Browne said, highlighting programmes such as second-chance education and technical training.
At the same time, Browne stressed that workers remain central to the country’s development, describing them as the driving force behind infrastructure, tourism and national growth.
“You are the ones who are driving the renaissance… you are the bedrock,” he said.
A similar message was echoed by AT&LU President Bernard De Nully, who told workers that responsibility must accompany the union’s efforts to secure better conditions.
“When you come to work… work,” De Nully said, urging discipline and professionalism in the workplace.
Both leaders framed productivity as essential to maintaining progress, with Browne linking worker performance directly to the government’s ability to sustain wage increases and economic expansion.
The remarks formed part of Labour Day celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the labour movement, with a strong emphasis on balancing worker rights with accountability.
Browne indicated that as the country moves forward, continued progress will depend not only on government policy, but also on the willingness of workers to contribute fully to national development.
