The Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board is calling on self-employed individuals to update their declared earnings following the recent increase to the national minimum wage.
The National Minimum Wage rose to EC$11.50 per hour effective April 1, 2026, under the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Code (Minimum Basic Wage) Order 2026 No. 30. The Board announced the update in a media release issued Friday.
The wage increase has direct implications for self-employed persons, whose social security contributions are tied to their declared monthly earnings. Those currently declaring earnings below EC$2,000 per month are being urged to update their records immediately to remain compliant and safeguard their future benefits.
Accurate income declarations matter for the long term. The Board emphasized that future benefits — including pensions and other payments — are calculated based on contributions made over a worker's lifetime. Underreporting income could result in significantly reduced payouts down the line.
Compliance is not optional. The Board made clear that adherence to the updated minimum wage requirements is a legal obligation for all registered self-employed persons, and that declarations falling below the minimum wage threshold will not be accepted.
Self-employed workers with questions about how the changes affect their accounts can contact the Self-Employed Unit at 268-736-3000.
