The Wage Commission is pleased to announce that it is advancing its efforts to establish a living wage by implementing the internationally recognized Anker Living Wage Methodology. As part of this effort, the Commission has entered into a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to identify a qualified research partner to conduct the comprehensive analysis required by the Anker approach.
What is the Anker Living Wage Approach?
The Anker Living Wage Methodology is a globally respected framework used to determine a fair, sustainable wage for workers, ensuring they can meet their basic needs, such as food, housing, and other essentials, with a small margin for unforeseen events. This methodology focuses on normative standards set by international guidelines, such as those from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ensuring that the living wage is both locally relevant and reflective of a decent standard of living.
Why This Approach is the Best for Bermuda
The Anker Living Wage Methodology has been selected for its transparency, practicality, and adaptability to local conditions. It uses localized data to ensure that living wages are specific to Bermuda’s unique cost structures. By separating and analyzing the costs of food, housing, and other essential needs, this method provides a thorough and equitable basis for determining a living wage. Additionally, it factors in local public services and deductions, ensuring that the final wage supports a decent quality of life without placing undue burdens on employers.
Timeline of Key Activities
(Dependent on publication of RFP and developments in the Commission’s understanding of the data and research work)
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RFP and Vendor Selection (November 2024 – March 2025)
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The Wage Commission is currently engaged in the RFP process and aims to select a research partner in early 2025.
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Anker Method Research (April 2025 – December 2025)
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Phase 1: Cost of Food Analysis
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Phase 2: Cost of Housing Analysis
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Phase 3: Cost of Other Essential Needs Analysis
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Phase 4: Margin for Unforeseen Events and Final Calculations on Living Wage
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Community Engagement (January 2026– March 2026)
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During this phase, the Wage Commission will actively engage with the public, sharing insights from the research and gathering feedback.
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Final Recommendations (June 2026)
Call to Action: Participation in Household Income and Expenditure Survey
The success of Phase 3 of the Anker Methodology, which focuses on analyzing the cost of essential needs, depends on data from the Department of Statistics' ongoing Household Income and Expenditure Survey. This data is crucial for accurately determining the true cost of living in Bermuda. The Wage Commission strongly encourages all individuals selected to participate in the survey to cooperate and engage with the Department of Statistics’ data collection. Accurate spending data is essential to help the Commission understand and recommend a true living wage for Bermuda.
Contact Information:
For more information about the Wage Commission and the progress of the living wage research, please contact:
Wage Commission
Email: wagecommission@gov.bm