Migrant workers in Antigua and Barbuda have reported facing threats from employers over union activity, according to a U.S. government review that paints a mixed picture of the country’s labor climate.
The **2025 Investment Climate Statement**, released in September by the U.S. Department of State, said unions claimed that some foreign workers were warned their work permits could be revoked if they joined a union. The law prohibits anti-union discrimination, but it does not specifically require reinstatement of workers dismissed for union activity.
While the report noted that freedom of association and collective bargaining are generally respected, it warned that enforcement is uneven. Unions and private citizens also called for more meaningful engagement in shaping labor policies.
The State Department said strikes are legally permitted but subject to heavy restrictions. Workers in essential services — including water, electricity, hospitals, prisons, air traffic control, telecommunications, meteorology, the port authority and the government printing office — must give two weeks’ notice before striking.
If either side in a labor dispute requests mediation from the Industrial Relations Court, strikes are prohibited under penalty of imprisonment for private-sector workers and some government employees. The court also has the power to block strikes if the national interest is deemed at risk.
Although the law bans retaliation against strikers and sets penalties ranging from fines to two months’ imprisonment for labor law violations, the report said that administrative and judicial procedures are often slowed by lengthy delays and appeals.
The report highlighted that the **minimum wage was adjusted in 2023 to $3.33 (XCD 9.00) per hour** across all labor categories. However, most workers earn more than the statutory floor. The standard workweek is 40 hours over five days, with a legal maximum of 48 hours over six days. Employees are entitled to 12 paid holidays each year, and overtime must be paid at 1.5 times the basic wage. Regular compulsory overtime is not permitted.
The report also noted that investors are legally required to maintain workers’ rights and safeguard the environment. While Antigua and Barbuda lacks specific health and safety regulations, general provisions exist under the Labour Code, and the Labour Commission is responsible for resolving disputes over abuses, health and safety conditions.
The U.S. review comes as Antigua and Barbuda seeks to attract more foreign investment and expand employment in tourism, construction, and business process outsourcing. The report concluded that while the legal framework upholds core labor rights, gaps in enforcement — particularly for migrant workers — remain a challenge for the country’s labor climate.
