JAMAICA | Gov't must Consult, not Bully Public Servants says PNP

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 12, 2022 -  The People’s National Party says its concerned over the haphazard approach taken by Finance Minister Nigel Clarke in his decision to revoke motor vehicle duty concessions from public sector workers, without prior consultation with the various associations, trade unions and other stakeholders.

The Opposition is shocked by the revelation made by the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) that prior to the Minister’s announcement on April 6, 2022,  they were not made aware of the Government’s intention to revoke duty concessions for qualified public sector workers.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has also expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Minister made the announcement. They have since issued an ultimatum to the Minister to provide them with a copy of the compensation review documents, including the newly proposed pay schedules and data which informed the Government’s decision. 

The Opposition is calling on the Minister of Finance to take a consultative approach to this matter and to ensure that decisions of this nature reflect the views of all stakeholders. 

Opposition Spokesperson on the Public Service and Special Abilities, Senator Lambert Brown says, “this gross error in judgment by the Minister has eroded trust in the public sector compensation reform process at a time when the government is seeking  to commence its implementation.”

He noted that public sector workers have a legitimate expectation of these benefits which form part of the terms and conditions of their employment and have been in place since the 1970s.

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