KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Rudyard Spencer says that the Public Sector Monitoring Committee (PSMC) will resume meeting on Thursday, July 14.

The PSMC monitors the salaries and working conditions covered by the MOU between the government and public sector trade unions.

The committee normally includes representatives of: the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), representing the Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU); the ministries of Finance and the Public Service, Education, Health and Labour and Social Security; the Planning Institute of Jamaican (PIOJ); Office of the Solicitor General; Cabinet Office; and the Financial Secretary and Deputy Financial Secretary; and the trade unions representing public sector workers.

The current MOU is for two years – April 2015 to March 2017. Twelve items from the previous contract period (2012-2015) are still being pursued, as well as the most recent pay increases of four per cent in year one and three per cent in year two, and improvements in fringe benefits paid to the government employees.

Spencer, who made the announcement during the Sectoral Debate on Wednesday also told the House of Representatives that $544 million was paid out to public sector employees for funeral grants and computers, motor vehicles, miscellaneous and tertiary education assistance loans.

Motor vehicle loan limits increased to $1.5 million for pre-owned vehicles and $2.5 million for new vehicles.

The funeral grant benefit for public officers who die in service was also increased to $300,000. An additional $80.5 million was used to provide transportation services to public sector employees and for tuition fund.

Balford Henry