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Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke
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Dr. Nigel Clarke
By Clinton McGregor
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke says the Finance Ministry is holding talks with a number of groups representing public sector workers as it seeks to conclude outstanding negotiations under the compensation review.
Dr. Clarke was responding to Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson.
Mr. Robinson raised concern about the reduction in the allocation for public sector compensation in the Fourth Supplementary Estimates, particularly when some government paid workers have been restive about the protracted negotiations.
Dr. Clarke says the government is now proposing an expenditure of $1.918 trillion, a reduction of $2.5 billion.
But the Finance Minister insisted that the shaving of the budget will not affect the compensation negotiations.
He said the government is making progress in the talks.
"After dealing with the salaries and restructuring of salaries, the restructuring of benefits is now under discussion. So, we are making progress in the sense that we are now moving on to discuss items that we were not discussing in 2023," he explained.
"The compensation restructure, the first phase of it, is for the most part complete with the exception of a few entities. Some of the matters that you've been referring to have to deal with the second phase to do with the restructuring of benefits and allowances," the minister added.
Several groups including teachers, academic staff at University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona and the University of Technology (UTech), public sector dentists, junior doctors and medical technologists have been complaining about outstanding issues under the compensation review.
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