Sandals St Vincent workers guaranteed ‘decent’ wages- employee

The public discourse surrounding the upcoming opening of the Sandals Resort St Vincent has shifted to criticism about wages after employee contracts were posted to social media over the weekend.

The newest resort of the international hotel chain is set to open in March, and applicants who were successful in the September, 2023, job fair are expected to begin training later this month.

Details of two contracts from an employer called Buccament Bay Management Limited have been making the rounds on social media showing the rates and terms of employment for Bar Porter and Cook 3. The letter states that the employees are to be paid at an hourly rate of EC$4.00 and EC$5.50 respectively.

An employee of Sandals SVG spoke to SEARCHLIGHT about the contract leaks, telling those who are set to enter the training period not to be “discouraged”, adding that all employed with the company will receive a “decent wage”.

Romarl John, who is employed in the Food and Beverage Department was part of the cohort recruited for overseas training.
He explained that the monies outlined in the “intensive letter” sent to those selected for training constitutes the basic pay for employees and it varies according to position. In addition to this, employees are also expected to receive gratuity, an estimated $200, which will also be paid during the period of training.

“When the hotel opens it (gratuity) will change. Sandals operates based on how many guests are in house. Sandals is opened all year round with a guarantee of sixty percent occupancy. As it is a new hotel it will be full … gratuity will go up.”
He also said after the six-month probationary period, employees’ wages are expected to be adjusted.

John defended the wages offered saying that the company is falling in line with SVG’s labour laws for hotel workers.

“… It is the government because each Sandals in the region, anywhere they go there is a minimum wage that is supposed to be paid …Sandals pay their staff, but there are some things that they have to abide with the government,” John told SEARCHLIGHT.
The Wages Regulations Act, 2017, outlines minimum wages for categories of workers in the hotel industry including Room Attendant, $715 monthly; Housekeeper, $855 monthly; Dishwasher,/Kitchen Helper, $570 monthly; Bartenders, $855 monthly and Chef, $1,395 monthly.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, last month made an announcement about the increase in minimum wages for private sector workers, set to come into effect this year.

The increase in minimum wages comes on the heels of a survey published by a Jamaica-based firm last year where SVG ranked as having the lowest wages in the region.

Speaking on WEFM’s ‘Issue at Hand’ programme on Sunday, January 7, Gonsalves said the Wages Council has put forward recommendations to Cabinet about minimum wage increases which detail that no employee in SVG be paid less than $1,000 monthly. Assuming that an employee works at a rate of forty hours per week, this works out to be $6.25 per hour.

“The recommendations said that it is their hope that no one will get less than EC$50.00 a day… a thousand dollars a month. On Friday we got the updated version of their final report and their recommendations are for a thousand dollars minimum for anybody who is working full time. For someone who is working part time they are recommending that no one be paid less than $7.00 an hour,” PM Gonsalves said.

John told SEARCHLIGHT that the benefits programme at Sandals gives employees an edge above others in the sector. He said meals, transportation, overnight accommodation for employees who reside far from the hotel, education opportunities including scholarships, gym membership, back-to-school packages and rewards, and awards for good service are some of the perks to look forward to.

Commenting on Sandals strict ‘no tipping policy’, John explained, that this is already included in the costs guests pay.
“Every guest tips on their credit card so the tips are shared amongst all staff. If the guests tip you personally it goes to Sandals Foundation. The only way you can keep tips is if you are a butler, or if a guest seals it in an envelope and says they want to give it to you.”

He reiterated that the gratuity arrangement ensures that all employees get a share of the pie.

John encouraged those who have been selected for training to view it as a positive opportunity.

“We don’t need any conflict. This is time now to see how we could keep and maintain Sandals St Vincent.”