President Ali – Gov’t wants “best possible welfare” for public servants

President, Irfaan Ali have reassured Public servants of government’s commitment to ensuring they have the “best possible welfare.”

Ali made this clear when he provided an update on his recent engagement with first Vice President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Dawn Gardener.

The president explained that the engagement was not a bargaining meeting but rather for the two sides share and discuss views on how they could resolve the challenges faced by public servants.

“Government believes in ensuring our workers, those in the public service, they have the best possible welfare,” Ali said.

The president explained that “it is not only about salaries, it is about a comprehensive strategy. Workers must be able to own their own homes, they must be able to access better standards in terms of health, education, support for their children going to school. So, it is a collective mechanism.”

Ali disclosed that since taking office, government has worked to improve working conditions for public servants.

He pointed out that in 2021, over 20,000 public servants benefited from a seven per cent salary increase. Government also returned the one-month tax-free bonus for members of the joint services.

Further, through the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, there will soon be a ‘day and night’ care programme to ensure a safe space for children, where single parents could leave their children during their respective working hours.

President Ali promised that government is also working to rectify the irregularities in salary scales across positions in the public sector.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh last year explained that “for example, a new graduate with a degree in environmental science might be earning $120,000 in one agency while a new graduate with an identical degree in environmental science might be earning $190,000 in another agency.”

Dr. Singh added, “Government will be taking steps next year to reduce these inconsistencies, by making suitable adjustments to salaries in order to improve the parity and consistency with which persons with comparable qualifications are paid.”