1 Year Agreement for 4% Wage Increase, “No Victory”

25 public sector bargaining units have inked deals that will afford a four percent wage and salary increase for a one-year period, the sectors; health, law, and security were represented. This signing prefaces the implementation of the compensation review, April 2022. The President of the Senior Uniform Officers says this is not a victory for the unions or the Government.

He was speaking at a signing ceremony between the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service where 14 entities signed an agreement for a 4 percent wage and salary increase for the period April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

In response to this, Finance Minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke outlined that the compensation review could not be done this year, as the Government’s revenue declined by 74 billion dollars as a result of the pandemic. He notes that it should be clear to all Jamaicans that the Government’s ability to pay for the 2021/2022 increases and also do the compensation review in the same year is not feasible. Though the Jamaican economy took a punch from the pandemic, it was not knocked out; Minister Clarke says the sector is recovering.

More in this CVM Live story from Jhanielle Powell: