Agreement Reached In Public Sector Pay Talks

Agreement Reached In Public Sector Pay Talks

Government and public sector unions have reached a new wages and salaries agreement after months of negotiations.
The deal comprises a range of concessions including a tax free lump sum payment and a six percent across the board pay hike over two years.
The agreement was reached in talks with the Congress of Trade Union’s and Staff Associations of Barbados, the Barbados Workers Union, the National Union of Public Workers and the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union after four rounds of negotiations that began last October.

The agreement is as follows:

  •  A one-off tax free $1500.00 lump sum payment for 2022-2023 for all persons who at March 31 of this year will have been working in the Public Service and in State Owned Enterprises that are dependent on central Government for recurring financial support. Deductions will be made only for NIS for those persons below the maximum insurable earnings ceiling to secure their pension entitlements. For the avoidance of doubt this includes all temporary workers who will be working up to the end of this month.
  •  Cumulative salary increases of 3% in 2023-2024 and 3% in the 2024-2025 across the board for all persons working in the Public Service and in State Owned Enterprises that are dependent on central Government for recurring financial support.
  •  Cumulative increases in Allowances of 10% for 2022-2023; 3% for 2023-2024 and 3% for 2024-2025 for all persons receiving Allowances who are working in the Public Service and in State Owned Enterprises that are dependent on central Government for recurring financial support.

Those State Owned Enterprises not relying on central Government for their recurring financial support will be encouraged to conclude any outstanding Wages and Salaries Negotiations in short order.

In addition, to the financial package outlined above, the Parties reached agreement on a number of Non-salaried items, aimed at enhancing the overall employee experience of Public Officers. These non-salaried items include but are not limited to –

  • Creation of 22 posts of Master Teacher for the Education Sector;
  • Creation of 10 posts of Specialist Nurses;
  • Establishment of a Grievance Monitoring Committee to track and resolve Public Sector Grievances to meet monthly;
  • Service wide Regrading and Job Evaluation exercise to be commenced this year;
  • Inclusion of additional posts in the Public Officers Loan and Travel Allowances framework.
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