PS News

The Jamaican Government is set to sign a new wage agreement for the 2012-15 contract period with the Public Service, with limited prospects for wage increases.

The agreement follows an announcement by the union representing public sector workers that its members had agreed to three more years of wage restraint which prompted the Minister for Finance, Peter Phillips, to seek Parliament’s approval for a $45 billion (A$459 million) drawdown from the National Housing Trust (NHT).

The NHT funds, the national debt exchange program and the public sector wage freeze are all part of the government’s effort to strike a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Dr Phillips said the Jamaica Civil Service Association had voted to accept a wage freeze in the interest of securing the IMF agreement.

He said the agreement showed that Jamaicans understood the urgency of the situation and were committed to undertaking the necessary reforms.

Dr Phillips said the sacrifice by the workers is unmatched.

Kingston, 6 March 2013

For more on this story go to:

http://www.psnews.com.au/worldpsn3527.html