Pay Increase Coming For Public Sector Workers

Public sector workers are set to benefit from a boost in their basic salaries.

Finance Minister, Fayval Williams, has announced that eligible employees will receive up to three increments in their substantive salary scales for the 2025-26 financial year.

In a statement on Monday, Minister Williams says this amounts to an approximate 7.5 percent increase.

The Minister says they’re also moving to ensure all long awaited increment payment for workers are met before the end of June.

Chevon Campbell, tells us more.

Some union groups such as teachers and health workers have grown restive over concerns that the Finance Ministry will not meet June deadline in disbursing payments in salary increments.

The June date was stipulated in an agreement with the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, JCTU.

With the deadline fast approaching, President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association Techa Clarke-Griffiths, last week, called for healthcare workers to be notified in advance if there will be further delays.

In a response on Monday, Minister Fayval Williams, noted that some ministries, departments, and agencies have already begun disbursing the increases, while others are working to complete payments by the end of June.

Under the new system, public sector employees will receive up to three increments in their prospective salary band for the financial year.

The minister says the development marks a significant shift from the previous system before 2022.

Under that arrangement before the public sector compensation overhaul, only a single increment per year was granted.

This was contingent on achieving at least 75-percent on the Performance Management and Appraisal System.

Minister Williams stated that the new arrangement resulted from continued dialogue with the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, JCTU.

She says the adjustment is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the remuneration framework in a fair and fiscally sustainable way.

She further affirmed that the Ministry will maintain active engagement with unions and associations across the public sector to ensure continued improvement of the compensation structure, emphasizing fairness, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.