A one-off tax free payment and salary increases, are among the wages and salaries agreement reached between Government and unions representing public sector workers – the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), the Barbados Workers Union (BWU), the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) and the Congress of Trade Unions & Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), which represents a number of local associations.
The announcement was made this evening in a statement from the Public Service, regarding negotiations for the period 2022 to 2025.
The one-off payment of $1500.00 is for the period 2022 to 2023.
It’s for everyone who at March 31 this year would have been working in the public service and state owned enterprises (SOEs) that are dependent of central Government for recurring financial support.
The only deduction from that amount will be for National Insurance.
The same individuals are eligible for cumulative salary increases of 3% for 2023 to 2024 and 3% in 2024 to 2025.
There were also increases in allowances of 10% for 2022 to 2023 and 3% for each of the following years.
The SOEs not relying on central Government for recurring financial support have been encouraged to conclude outstanding wages and salaries negotiations in short order.
In addition to the financial package, agreement was also reached on non-salary items.
Among them, the creation of 22 posts of Master Teacher for the education sector; the creation of 10 posts of Specialist Nurses and the establishment of a Grievance Monitoring Committee to track and resolve public sector grievances, to meet monthly.
The Public Service says it is envisaged that the salary increases and other initiatives will allow for the retention of valuable public service skills, upward mobility and the maintenance of a harmonious labour management relationship in the public sector and state owned enterprises.
