“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Nelson Mandela’s words are meant to inspire action. Yet here in St. Maarten, the gap between wages and living costs shows that what is possible is not being fully realized.

Recently, I went into a store looking for a printer. I asked where the $45 options were. The clerk asked, “When was the last time you bought a printer?” I said, “2012.” His response? “This is 2026.” Prices have moved ahead 14 years; wages have barely kept pace.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• January 2023: Minimum wage increased from NAf 8.83 to NAf 9.95/hour (~12.6%).

• April 2024: Increased to NAf 10.40/hour (~4.5%).

• January 2026: Adjusted to XCG 10.93/hour (~0.65%, based on inflation).

Meanwhile, inflation, especially for essentials like food, rent, utilities, and transportation, has often risen faster than these increases. In 2024 alone, consumer prices rose approximately 3.6%, meaning real purchasing power for minimum-wage workers has barely improved. Families continue to struggle to cover basic expenses.

Minimum wage is intended as a floor for dignity and survival. Today, it does not fully meet that goal. Short-term contracts, under-the-table arrangements, and rising living costs make survival on minimum wage increasingly difficult.

It is clear: further delay is no longer acceptable. The government has the authority to adjust wages to match the real cost of living, and to do so transparently and consistently. Incremental increases tied to outdated benchmarks leave workers behind.

A livable minimum wage is not a radical demand. It is fairness, dignity, and responsibility. The people of St. Maarten deserve wages that reflect the cost of living, not symbolic gestures that fall short.

The government can act now to ensure that work provides stability, security, and opportunity. The data is clear, the need is urgent, and the solution is straightforward.

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