As part of Jamaica’s public sector transformation programme, Finance Minister Nigel Clarke has committed to working with Government partners to develop a modern policy and philosophy that serve to properly compensate public sector employees.

Clarke, who was speaking at the 99th Annual General Meeting of the Jamaica Civil Service Association last week, emphasised that Jamaica’s civil service is the single most important institution which affects the lives of Jamaicans and, as a result, the Government is working to ensure that the service provided is efficient and responsive to the needs of citizens.

“We intend to work with our partners in a consultative manner to, among other things, overhaul the compensation system, resulting in a simpler compensation structure applied across the public sector in a consistent manner,” he said.

“The allowance structure in the public sector will also be reformed and developed into a modern compensation policy and philosophy that guide the development and management of compensation in the public sector and serve to properly compensate employees, encourage performance, and moderate the rate of growth of our total wage bill,” the minister said.

According to Clarke, the existing compensation structure allows for a separation in the treatment of salaries and allowances where, in the past, the planned parameters for increases to salaries did not hold for increases to some allowances which resulted a wage bill higher than the country’s budget.

The complexity has also served to constrain the Government’s ability to review and modernise compensation as, given the typical wage cycle, it has to negotiate with 40 bargaining units over a two-year period. The minister said that oftentimes, only the level of wages and allowances can be considered.

Clarke underscored the importance of transforming the public service into a modern sector that is fair, values people, and consistently delivers high- quality services.

He asserted that the Government is intent on conducting the transformation process in a fair and consultative manner, as success in achieving a transformed public sector will require the collective input of ministries, departments, agencies, unions, workers, civil society, and the private sector.

“We are guided by the philosophy which interrogates what are the things that Government should do and pay for; what are the things that Government must pay for, but does not have to do; and what are the things that Government should not do and should not pay for,” he said.

Clarke added that much progress has been made to provide hassle-free service to all stakeholders and as such, it is imperative that the Government apply laser-like focus in dealing with inefficiencies that are structurally embedded in the performance of the public sector.

“Today you can get your passport within 24 hours; you can apply and pay for your birth certificate without leaving your home and receive it within three days; and you pay taxes and traffic fines online,” he said.

However, the minister stressed that the public sector must apply productivity-enhancing lessons from those experiences while harnessing the power of technology to make processes more efficient.