Public servant minimum basic salary raised

DPI, Guyana, Monday, November 26, 2018

The government has raised the minimum basic salary for public servants to $64,200. The increase is in addition to the scaled increase announced earlier this month.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan made the announcement during the presentation of the 2019 National Budget in the National Assembly today. Last year, the government increased the minimum wage from $50,000 to $60,000.

Meanwhile, Minister Jordan also presented a paper for the back pay for this current increase to be paid out tax free. The scaled salary increases recently announced ranges from seven percent for persons making under $100,000 to 0.5 percent for persons making more than $1m.

The Minister noted this is “not an insignificant supplement for the holiday season” for public servants. The new salary increase takes effect from January 1, 2018.

The increases do not apply for teachers, University of Guyana employees, Government Ministers and Members of Parliament. It does, however, apply to the Disciplined Services, including the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, said the government remains committed to improving the salaries of public servants which has been demonstrated by increased the minimum wage by over 50 percent from 2015-2017.

Tiffny Rhodius.

Image: Department of Public Information.