Gov’t Reaches Agreement with Public-Sector Workers on Overtime and Other Matters

The Government has reached an agreement with unions representing public-sector workers on extra time (overtime) and other key matters relating to conditions of service.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, made the disclosure while addressing the Jamaica Civil Service Association’s 105th annual general meeting (AGM) at Jacisera Park in St. Andrew on Thursday (May 30).

Negotiations with public-sector groups on conditions of service is another phase of the comprehensive review of compensation for employees.

The first phase dealt with the salary scale, which saw the Government increasing public-sector compensation by $200 billion between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

The review of conditions of service addresses extra hours worked, passenger mile and mileage rates, salary increment and uniform allowance.

Minister Clarke said that “complete agreement” has been reached on all but one item.

“I am happy to report to you on the dawn of the 105th conference, that the work that we have done has borne fruit, and on all items except for one we have complete agreement. The circulars are drafted and will go out in a few weeks,” Dr. Clarke said.

Turning to the matter of extra hours worked, the Minister said the new arrangement under the compensation restructuring will ensure that there is one policy that guides the process throughout the public service.

“We are coming from a system where it was treated differently in different paths. Some people get duty allowance, some don’t and the two of them are working late at night. Some people get this and some people don’t get that. So, we had to take our time to put a comprehensive thing in place so that there is one policy for extra hours worked, and that circular has been already drafted and is going to go out very shortly,” he said.

Dr. Clarke explained that “tidying up work” remains as it relates to the matter of salary increment.

“We are working on it, and we are nearly there. So, expect that all these circulars are going to go out at the same time because we honour you, we respect you and we want to be a great country and we want a great public service,” he noted.

Dr. Clarke said Jamaicans can be proud of the restructuring undertaking.

“We have been through a mammoth exercise… we engaged in the only restructuring of compensation in Jamaica’s history over the past three fiscal years. There is absolutely no precedence anywhere that we can find for a country engaging in a wholesale restructuring of compensation across all arms of government at the same time. Other countries that we have looked at did teachers first, nurses second, police, civil service, then it takes 10 years,” he pointed out.

Dr. Clarke noted that while there is still some work to be done, “we have a restructured compensation system with a single spine across the civil service and a 16-point scale across the public service. That is something, working together with your union and other unions, that Jamaica can be proud of achieving”.

The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.; Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell; Permanent Secretaries, members of the association as well as several other attendees.