Cost to treasury of public service wage hikes still unclear

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo

Government on Wednes-day announced a series of wage and salary increases for the Public Service but the total cost to the treasury remains unclear and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has claimed that the coalition government is planning to dismiss 20,000 workers to make the increase sustainable.

During an address to the Nation on Wednesday President David Granger announced that public servants, including teachers, nurses and doctors,  and members of the defence, police and security services, will receive permanent, tax-free increases in wages – 8.5% to 9% – and hefty allowances this year all of which will be retroactive to January 1st 2019.

Speaking on the increases Jagdeo said they are nothing more than “routine increases”.