Finance Minister Reiterates Gov’t’s Commitment to Addressing Public-Sector-Compensation Anomalies

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, has reiterated that he stands ready to engage with public-sector groups to discuss anomalies pertaining to the compensation review.

The new compensation system aims to reduce and simplify the 325 salary scales and 185 allowances across the civil service and partly represents a continuation of the Government’s public-sector-transformation programme.

“You don’t make that kind of transformation without there being anomalies, especially with [the] complicated nature of the system we are coming from. I have made myself available… . The Ministry of Finance is available [and] has been available to meet to discuss any anomalies. So, we are here and ready to engage on any anomalies that exist, and we have meetings set up to address some of the systematic issues,” Dr. Clarke said.

He was addressing Wednesday’s (May 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Dr. Clarke said the public-sector-compensation review has not been dominated by anomalies, which he pointed out “are in the minority”.

“The Prime Minister has given a commitment… . I have given a commitment that those anomalies will be addressed. I would have said it before… this is not a salary increase. This is a complete transformational change in the compensation framework for over 110,000 persons in the public sector,” he underscored.