The Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board has issued a notice requiring self-employed persons to update their declared earnings in line with the new national minimum wage of EC$11.50 per hour, effective April 1, 2026.
According to Antigua News Room, the directive stems from the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Code (Minimum Basic Wage) Order 2026 No. 30, which mandates that Social Security declarations by self-employed individuals reflect the revised minimum wage rate.
Self-employed persons whose monthly declared earnings currently fall below EC$2,000.00 are required to update their records with the Board to remain compliant and safeguard their future benefit entitlements.
The Social Security Board outlined two key reasons why compliance is critical. First, benefit accuracy: future payouts are calculated based on contributions made, meaning that underreporting earnings now could result in significantly reduced benefits down the line. Second, legal compliance: declarations below the current minimum wage will not be accepted, as matching the legal minimum is a statutory requirement for all registered self-employed persons.
Self-employed individuals with questions about how the changes affect their specific accounts are encouraged to contact the Self-Employed Unit directly at 268-736-3000.
