President open to negotiations on public servants’ salary increases

Georgetown, GINA, January 24, 2014

 

President Donald Ramotar today said that he is open to negotiations with public servants and unions, to come up with mutually accepted decisions in terms of annual salary increases.

The President was at the time responding to questions from media operatives specifically as it relates to the five percent retroactive increase offered in December last year that sparked protest among some public servants.

He explained that the country has come a far way, and that his government is willing to give its workers as much as the country can afford.

“My desire is to give everybody a bigger salary as possible, but this is not something that only has to go with desire it also has to do with your ability and capacity and the resources at your disposal,” the Head of State explained.

He is hoping that negotiations for increases in wages and salaries can commence early. The five percent that was awarded in 2013 is above the current inflation rate.

When the PPP/C assumed Office in 1992, a public servant’s minimum wage was $3137 and by 2005 the figure rose to $23,204. In 2012, five percent increase was granted to public servants, in 2011, eight percent, in 2010, five percent and in 2009, six percent.