Public servants to get 10% retroactive pay hike for 2024, 8% in 2025 – Ali

…qualification allowances to start in 2025

In an eagerly-anticipated move, President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that public servants will benefit from a 10 per cent salary increase for 2024, retroactive to January of this year, as well as the impending start of the administration paying public servants allowances based on qualifications.

According to President Ali, who was at the time addressing the Police Force’s Christmas breakfast on Tuesday, public servants will not only receive a 10 per cent retroactive salary increase this year, but also an eight per cent increase for next year. A two-year agreement reflecting these increases was also signed with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on Monday.
“In that agreement, the public servants will benefit this year, retroactive from January, from a 10 per cent increase in salary. This 10 per cent increase in salary, which is retroactive from January 1, 2024, would amount to 35 per cent cumulative salary increase over the last four years. Further, we’ve been able to agree with the union that 2025 will also see an increase in the salary of public servants of eight per cent,” the Head of State said.

Qualification allowance
The President went even further, announcing that allowances will be made for persons with certain qualifications effective January 1, 2025. These include an allowance of $15,000 per month for public servants with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications.

“Holders of a master’s degree will receive an additional $22,000 monthly. And holders of a doctoral degree will receive an additional $32,000 monthly. This is in keeping with our commitment of incentivising education, training and development of our human capital.”
“Additionally, a $5000 annual increase in uniform allowance for categories of health workers, as well as a $10,000 increase for public servants, resulting in an increase of as much as 77 per cent in this allowance,” President Ali explained.
Public servants on secondment will also receive a $35,000 monthly housing allowance, as well as increases in risk, motor car and travel allowances. There will also be an $8000 monthly station allowance for public servants in certain hinterland and riverine areas, a 300 per cent increase in this category of allowance.
“Risk allowance increases of 50 per cent, an increase in motor car and travel allowance and a 104 per cent increase in motor car and travel allowance. The granting of 100 duty-free concessions per annum, to the position of staff nurses and above, with priority given to persons with the longest years of service and those who have never benefitted from a duty-free concession. This would ensure that the criteria of those granted the duty-free, also serve the time, so that there is an incentive for the retention of our nurses also,” he said.

Salary scales
When it comes to salary scales, President Ali explained the adjustments the Government will be making. These adjustments will result in a range of salary increases.

For instance, public servants in Grades 1 to 6 with a minimum of four years of service will be moved to the midpoint of their current scale, resulting in salary increases of up to 13 per cent for some employees.
Meanwhile, those public servants with a minimum of eight years of service within Grades 1 to 6 will be moved to the maximum of their scale, leading to salary increases of up to 26 per cent. Additionally, public servants in Grades 7 to 8 with at least four years of service in their current scale will be eligible for an additional monthly amount equivalent to the nominal difference between the minimum and midpoint of Grade 6, providing increases of up to 11 per cent.
Nor are the disciplined forces left out, as they will also benefit from increases to housing and risk allowances. However, the Head of State urged the disciplined forces to foster trust in the public during the carrying out of their duties, just as they trust the Government to support them.
“As men and women in uniform, the people out there must be able to trust you. Trust you with their security, their lives and the safety of their communities and families. And so too, must you and the people out there, be able to trust your Government to do the right thing, uphold democracy and the rule of law and implement the promises and commitments they make when they seek your votes. And this Government has demonstrated that we’ve not only earned your trust, but we’ve stayed committed to your trust and we’ve fulfilled all that we’ve promised.”
In addition to the GPSU, the Government was also able to reach an agreement with the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) for a historic three-year agreement that will deliver a 10 per cent salary increase in 2024, 8 per cent in 2025, and 9 per cent in 2026, mirroring the agreements signed with the GTU. (G3)