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Finance Minister expected to address some concerns of immigration officers

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NWU General Secretary Granville Valentine
By Kimone Witter 
 
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke has reportedly committed to providing a response to some of the grouses of immigration officers by Friday, following a meeting with the National Workers Union (NWU) on Wednesday.
 
NWU General Secretary Granville Valentine says the update on what he calls low hanging fruits is expected in time for Friday's scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
 
The Labour Ministry requested that the union and the management of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) return to its offices to get a progress report on the negotiations. This request came after immigration officers stayed off the job for a day and a half to protest the slow pace in addressing their concerns.
 
Mr. Valentine said some headway was made during Wednesday's meeting which also involved PICA. 
 
He said the workers will be paid as well as reimbursed for monies that were due to them. 
 
Among other things, a commitment was also given by the PICA management that aspects of the pension arrangements for immigration officers will be corrected. 
 
Mr. Valentine has also called attention to a contract arrangement negatively affecting customer service representatives at PICA.
 
He said the short term contracts are being rolled from six months to one year despite there being clear vacancies. 
 
According to the trade unionist, this is "unfair, unjust and unethical". He called for the minister and the permanent secretary to urgently intervene and address the issue, which he said is a breach of the laws of Jamaica. 
 


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