KINGSTON, Jamaica — Public sector employees hoping to get updates on a number of issues from the minister responsible for their matters, Horace Dalley, are in for a disappointing afternoon.

Dalley was slated to speak today in the sectoral debate in the House of Representatives but, for reasons unexplained, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, will speak instead.

Among the issues the minister was expected to deal with was the public sector reform programme, which is aimed at improving the efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness of the public sector; the outstanding payments from the agreed $25,000 per annum one-off salary payments; and the failure of the government agencies to pay over salary deductions from their staff to their creditors.

Updates on the review of public sector employment and renumeration and improvements to the public service databases in e-Census, as well as the procurement of a human resource software system (the enterprise HR system) expected by the end of this month, are among other issues that need to be addressed.

However, the public will have to wait a while for an update from Dalley, as today Kellier will fill the space speaking on issues of labour and social security, with the overseas farm work programme and the controversial flexible work arrangements among the main ones he is expected to address.

Other speakers scheduled today are the controversial Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport Works and Housing, Richard Azan; and MP for North East St Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce.

Balford Henry