Gov’t Senator Joins the Call for Increased Public and Private-Sector Productivity

Government Senator, Don Wehby, has added his voice to calls being made for increased productivity in the public and private sectors.

Making his contribution to the Appropriations Bill, 2024, debate in the Senate on Wednesday (March 27), Senator Wehby, who is also GraceKennedy Group Chief Executive Officer, suggested that national dialogue is needed on the issue.

“I would call on us to put together that forum for us to have that national debate on how to increase productivity. The Most Hon. Prime Minister noted that increasing productivity in the public sector is the answer to the problem of diminished wages.

“May I say this, in all honesty, it is also an issue in the private sector, the issue of productivity. So I support his position and would also encourage the private sector to do the same,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Wehby said public-sector wages have increased significantly since 2021 and commended the workers for their hard work and dedication as well as the Government for its stewardship of the nation’s finances.

“Jamaicans have worked too hard; public sector workers have made too many sacrifices for us to reverse the gains made to reduce our debt and improve our economic outlook. One of the big sacrifices our public-sector workers have made is to endure wage freeze after wage freeze from as far back as 2004.

“I am very pleased that under the current Administration, public-sector wages have increased by $200 billion since 2021. This is a big achievement, the largest public-sector wage increase in Jamaica’s history. Such a milestone wouldn’t have materialised without the meticulous and responsible stewardship of our nation’s finances by the Government,” he said.

The Appropriations Bill, 2024, outlines how the Government will spend the $1.3 trillion allocated in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure.

The Bill authorises expenditure for fiscal year 2024/25 and stipulates how the money will be allocated to the various services and purposes of the Government.