THE Government confirmed in the Senate on Friday that no pay increase had been granted to parliamentarians or civil servants since 2009.
“Consistent with the strategy employed under the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP), the government has not granted any wage increase to any public sector worker since April, 2009,” said Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, A J Nicholson.He was responding to a number of questions tabled in June by opposition senator, Robert Montague, suggesting that the government had given itself, its advisors and consultants, pay increases since January 2012.As expected, Senator Nicholson denied that any pay increase had been received by either the Government, or its staff and advisors. However, he confirmed that three tranches in outstanding retroactive payments from a seven per cent pay increase owed to the public sector since 2009/10 were paid between May, 2012 and May 2013. Two more tranches are due in October 2013 and May 2014 to complete the payments.Following the Government’s agreement with public sector trade unions on a two-year contract, 2008/9-2009/10, which included provisions for a 15 per cent pay rise in the first year and a seven per cent increase in the second year, the second year’s increase was not paid following an agreement with the IMF. However, the Government eventually agreed to implement the increase in 2011, and pay the retroactive portions in five tranches, to end in May 2014.“This is the agreement we are still honouring,” Nicholson told the Senate on Friday.In response to other questions raised by Montague, he explained that 24 groups, representing 85 per cent of the public sector, have already signed on to the Heads of Agreement, which include a wage restraint provision for the period 2012/13 to 2015/16.However, he admitted that there are nine groups which have not agreed- five police groups; the Nurses Association of Jamaica; the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association; the Association of Government Medical Consultants; and the Academic Staff Association of the University of Technology. The Government currently has an outstanding wage dispute with the Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association, but this was not included in the list.Senator Nicholson admitted that the wage freeze is applicable to all public sector workers, including those who have not yet signed.Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning Horace Dalley told the House recently that an offer would be made soon to the police groups.HOUSE RULES
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Gov"t confirms no pay increase granted to parliamentarians, civil servants
