$70,000 – new minimum wage
― govt committed to ensuring that all can enjoy a good life – Pres. Granger
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Sweeper-cleaners and all employees in the public sector earning the minimum wage will, from December, receive $70,000 following the implementation of the new public service basic salary. His Excellency, President David Granger made this significant announcement on Wednesday, November 13. The new remuneration takes effect from January 1, 2019, and is a 9% increase from the previous $64,220 per month.
This means that public servants earning a minimum wage of $64,220 will receive, in their December pay cheque $69,336, a sum in excess of their base salaries, the president added.
“Public servants, including teachers, nurses, doctors, members of the Defence Force, Police Force and the security services, will benefit from these permanent salary increases.”
The Head of State noted, “This represents a 9% increase for 2019 and an overall increase of seventy-seven per cent since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government entered office in 2015.”
he Head of State reminded that “public servants provide public goods and services which benefit everyone and every sector of the economy. The APNU+AFC Coalition is committed to creating a proficient, professional, highly-motivated and well-paid Public Service. Your government is committed to good governance and ensuring that all Guyanese can enjoy the good life.”
In an invited comment earlier, Minister of Finance, Hon. Winston Jordan noted that it was “a significant development.” Minister Jordan was at the time appearing on the National Communications Network’s (NCN) programme ‘INSIGHT’. The minister assured that he will continue to ensure that the retroactive payments will be tax-free.
Explaining the increases enabled by the APNU+AFC government since assuming office in May 2015, Minister Jordan explained that effectively, between July 1, 2015, and January 1, 2019, the government has increased the minimum wage by 77% – a considerable increase.