1 week ago
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The Ministry of the Public Service has responded to fresh concerns raised by the Public Service Union (PSU) regarding what the union describes as delays by the Ministry of Finance in activating a series of long-awaited allowances for frontline public officers. Earlier this week, the PSU pointed to an official memo dated October 6 and addressed to Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, confirming that the Joint Staff Relations Council (JSRC), with full support from the Ministry of the Public Service, had approved several new allowances for personnel within the National Fire Service, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). Despite those approvals, the union maintains that none of the benefits have yet been implemented. Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher provided clarification. He confirmed that every one of the allowances referenced by the PSU has already been approved by his ministry and formally sent to the Ministry of Finance for processing. Usher explained that from the Public Service Ministry’s end, the work is completed. What remains now is the internal payment processing by the Ministry of Finance.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “I did see a release being put out by the Public Service Union yesterday in reference to some allowances for medical personnel, for NEMO officers and for firemen. Now, the allowances that they are referring to have already been approved by the Joint Staff Relations Council. And from the Ministry of Public Service, we’ve already sent the notice that these allowances have been approved. Now, I think the holdup is that the Ministry of Finance has not allocated the funds yet to pay the allowances but I want those public officers to know that the allowances have been approved, that as soon as the Ministry of Finance allocates the funds for the allowances that those allowances will be paid. Now there’s a date when it’s to become effective so they will be getting the allowances from that effective date as well even if it’s sometime in the future.”
These allowances include $200 monthly Hazard (Danger) Allowance for all firemen; $300 Hazard Allowance; $200 Quick Response Allowance for firemen, EMS personnel, and certified paramedics; $300 monthly Housing Allowance for transferred firemen without provided quarters for the Ministry of Health & Wellness; $200 monthly Hazard Allowance for Assistant Radiographers, Domestic Auxiliaries, Patient Care Assistants, Dental Surgeons, and Dental Assistants. Additionally, there was approval for NEMO Personnel with $150 On-Call Allowance; and $150 Hazard (Wet & Dirty Conditions) Allowance.
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