ST JAMES, Jamaica — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has indicated the government’s intention to remove the tax on tips for workers in the tourism industry.

He argued that the move would increase workers’ take-home pay by almost 100 percent.

“We are determined, for example, that the gratuity, which we know belongs to them (tourism workers), is paid to them in full. However you make arrangements to allow it, yes, allow it, because once it is done, the immediate take-home pay of the worker will almost double, which will change the arrangements and reduce the space for others to d intervene and foment instability. ” Bartlett said.

He was speaking at the Golden Tourism Day Awards ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Center on Sunday evening. Tourism workers who have dedicated 50 years or more of exceptional service were honored at the ceremony.

Bartlett stressed the need to improve the labor market in the tourism industry.

“I just want you to understand that this pivot needs to happen. Labor market arrangements in tourism need total reform, and the current small situations of a certain level of instability in labor market arrangements, undoubtedly the industrial relations situation, need to be corrected . And as Minister, we will work together to solve this problem. We are going to make workers in the tourism industry in Jamaica feel good about being part of this great industry. Your industry,” said the Minister of Tourism.