PM Thanks Nurses for Supporting Government’s Economic Programme and Accepting Wage Offer

Hailing the country’s nurses as ‘God’s angels on earth’, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller expressed gratitude to them for continuing to support the ongoing Economic Reform Programme and accepting the Government’s wage offer. The Prime Minister was speaking at the Signing of the Heads of Agreement for the Contract Period 2015-2017 between the Government of Jamaica and the Nurses Association of Jamaica who represent registered nurses in the Government service, on Friday, October 30 at Jamaica House.

“On behalf of the Government, let me take this opportunity to offer my gratitude and commendations to the members of the Nurses Association of Jamaica for their continued patience, understanding and support of the Government’s Economic Programme and for concluding the negotiations for the 2015-2017 Contract Period,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said. “We understand the working conditions and the yeoman sacrifice that our nurses give daily to provide the world-class service and regret that we cannot afford to give all that is being requested and that you so truly deserve,” the Prime Minister noted.

Under the agreement, nurses will receive an overall salary increase of 4% and 3% in year 1 and 2 respectively. The Prime Minister added that the approved increases have been given on all allowances. “The Government sees it prudent at this time to give its full support to the Ministry of Health’s Public Health programme. This is being facilitated by the extension of the Standby On-Call allowance to Regional Nursing Supervisors, Senior Public Health Nurses and other Public Health Nurses involved in Hotel and Hospital Active Surveillance,” she outlined.

Additionally, the payment of the outstanding amounts for the Health Sector Reclassification Exercise will be made to the nurses in November 2015 and January 2016, as well as to all other health sector workers. The Government has also agreed to assist with the education and training of nurses in the provision of sponsorship for tertiary studies. Children of nurses will also have access to scholarships.

President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) Mrs. Janett Coore Farr thanked the Ministries of Health and Finance for enabling the signing of the Agreement, noting that her passion is to ensure that more nurses remain in Jamaica.

The signing of the Agreement with the NAJ brings the total number of public sector workers who have come to a wage agreement with the Government to 90%.