The Government represented by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is close to completing its agreement on wage increases with the public sector, but contract workers employed in ministries, departments and agencies are worried that they will be left out.

One local government worker, on hearing the news of recent wage agreements, told the Jamaica Observer: “That’s good but government contract workers, many of whom are not able to join a union or get protection because of the unpredictability of the contract and job security, are concerned that we may not benefit from the reclassification or any discussions.”

But, meanwhile, workers in the majority public sector group are expecting to see pay increases and retroactive payments arising from concluding meetings with the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.

The cost of the complete programme is estimated at $100 billion over three years, as the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service reclassification programme is rolled out.

Agreement is expected between the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions which represents 45 bargaining units and internal staff associations.

The bargaining groups and unions represent 110,000 workers in the public sector.

A major point of discussion surrounds how allowances will be absorbed into salary packages.

Public sector workers and their representatives have been working on the agreement with the Government to cover the period 2022 to 2025. Involved are 16 pay scales and other benefits.

No union representation

The contract worker to whom the Business Observer spoke said members of his group have been excluded from benefits awarded to full-time employees on many occasions, and that he expected the same thing to happen again, as they were without union representation.

It is expected that retroactive payments to April 2022 will have to be made to the broad class of workers, based on the agreement.

In projected increases, the Government is said to be offering the lowest category of worker a maximum $1.3 million before tax, while the highest paid group could earn up to $24.6 million. Agreement is also expected around travelling and other non-taxable allowances.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke indicated in early 2022 that the public sector has more than 325 grade levels and 185 allowances, a structure which the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is intent on overhauling.

It is projected that some workers in the medium term will be retrenched with the planned mergers, closure and divestment of some public bodies; and outsourcing of some services.

In the budget presentation for the current financial year the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service indicated that it will cost the Government more than $100 billion to restructure the system of public sector compensation over the next three years.