POINT, Hanover — While the island’s public health inspectors have accepted the latest wage offer from the Government, a shadow of anxiety looms over the profession as critical discussions regarding outstanding fringe benefits and claims remain delayed.

Despite the acceptance of the wage increase — largely influenced by parity with other public sector organisations — frustration is reportedly increasing among public health inspectors regarding their benefits package.

President of the Jamaica Association of Public Health Inspectors (JAPHI) O’Neil Brown on Tuesday told the Jamaica Observer that his members are looking forward to having this addressed urgently.

“As it relates to wage negotiations, we have already agreed on the 10 per cent that will increase over the two years and the $80,000 one-off payment, which was paid out for October. We [are now] looking forward to going back to the table with the Government as it relates to our fringe benefits and the rest of the claims that we have submitted,” said Brown.

He was speaking with the Observer after providing a status update of the negotiations to his members during the opening ceremony of the JAPHI’s 80th Educational Conference at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa in Point, Hanover.

When pressed on why these additional matters remain unsettled, Brown argued that the delay stems from the Government’s protocol of prioritising larger bargaining bodies.

“There is no sticking point. It’s just that the Government has to deal with the larger unions and associations before they get to the individual associations, or the smaller associations,” Brown explained.

He pointed out that the Government’s current stance against entertaining new arrangements presents a hurdle for provisions specifically tailored to public health inspectors.

“As it relates to the wage negotiations, our public health inspectors are accepting, due to the fact that the larger organisations and associations are getting the same. But as it relates to some of our fringe benefits, I know that the Government says they are not entertaining any new arrangements, but we have some concerns where that is concerned.

“Due to the fact that there are certain fringe benefits that are really unique to the public health inspectors, we are looking forward to getting back around the table with the Government where that is concerned,” added Brown.

He said public health inspectors are growing increasingly uneasy over how prolonged delays and inflation rates will eat into their retroactive and prospective earnings.

“It’s just the percentage of fringe benefits that they are being offered. But at this time, we, as public health inspectors, are concerned about how these things are being dealt with and the length of time, because right now there are certain aspects — financial aspects — that are affecting public health inspectors, like the inflation rate has gone up, which will affect the amount of percentage that we get on any of our fringe benefits, as well as the amount of money that we earned over the year that we weren’t being paid for,” argued Brown.

He told the Observer that he is cautiously optimistic that a resolution can be reached before the current fiscal window closes.