Govt puts end to “3-month work before pay” policy

Persons who join the public service will no longer have to wait three months before receiving a monthly salary since the Government has thrown out the policy.
This is according to Public Service Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, who noted during a press conference on Thursday that this requirement would end on the last day of July as many persons have raised concerns about the long waiting period to receive their salaries.
It was customary that a new public servant would be required to work for three consecutive months before receiving their first salary.
“Many public servants have reiterated the issue of having to work for three months before being paid. I have thus far found no rule or policy that substantiates this. I find this practice unconscionable and thus, [it] should no longer be a practice in any government agency after the month of July. I am working with my staff to remove this bugbear from those who are desirous of joining the public service. So, going forward, no one should have to wait beyond one month of being hired to receive their first salary,” the Minister stated.
Over the years, public servants have initiated strike actions to voice their opinions over salary increases among other issues.
Last year, more than 4000 public servants took to the streets against the Government demanding better wages and salaries. Days of negotiation and arbitration resulted in the meeting of some demands.
It was later presented in the National Assembly that persons earning less than $100,000 a month would get a seven per cent increase. Those earning between $100,000 and $299,999 would receive an increase of 6.5 per cent, while those in the $300,000 to $499,999 range got a five per cent increase.
Persons with a pay cheque of between $500,000 and $699,999 a month had their salaries increased by three per cent.
Those in the $700,000 to $799,999 range were eligible for an increase of two per cent while those earning $800,000 to $999,999 got one per cent in increases and those with a $1 million salary and above received a 0.5 per cent increase.
According to the unions, the increases were “a violation of good labour relations practices”.
Only last week, the Public Service Commission had announced that more than 500 jobs were up for grabs.
Meanwhile, the Minister noted that new employees would not be told that they have to wait until they worked three months before they could receive a salary.