The country’s public servants have been put on notice that improved remuneration means there is the expectation of improved performance and customer service.

In this regard, a new performance management system is being developed for public sector employees according to the Minister of Finance and Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke.

Clarke spoke to the matter as he responded to questions from the Member of Parliament for St Mary Western, Robert Montague, during last week’s sitting of the Standing Finance Committee that examined the 2023/24 budget.

“We always hear about the money but is there a work output standardisation because you’re paying a person more…is it tied to performance?” Montague asked.

In responding, Clarke told Montague that his question was on the minds of many Jamaicans.

“Because we live in a country of (approximately) three million people, the public service is 110,000. When we take up over $100 billion more for that 110,000 the rest of Jamaica wants to make sure that they are going to get value for this extra spend,” Clarke said.

“This is why we have been, at every opportunity, speaking for the need for heightened levels of productivity and performance coming out of this new compensation structure,” he added.

Continuing, Clarke said “The government, working with our partners in the unions will be putting in a performance management system; we’re committed to having it in place two financial years from now”.

The minister explained that the system will take time to design. Additionally, he said every part of government will have a different matrix of performance indicators that will have to be assessed and it will work differently in different parts of government.

“It is absolutely key if the people of Jamaica are to benefit from this huge investment that the people are making in the public service,” said Clarke.