Public Service Commission of Inquiry recommends salary structure framework for public servants

The Commission's report recommended that a "Wage and Salary Administration Policy be given consideration for implementation in the public service to provide a reasonable and workable framework within which employees can be paid fair and equitable wages and salaries."

Public Service Commission of Inquiry recommends salary structure framework for public servants

The Public Service Commission of Inquiry Report was distributed in the National Assembly on Tuesday, but those anticipating any form of concrete recommendations on salary increases may be disappointed.

The Commission called on the government to develop a performance driven system to measure and pay for performance in the public service.

The Report had little to advise in the area of salary increases and focused largely on recommending a framework within which salary increases should be negotiated and granted by the government.

While the Commission had maintained that it was not a wages and salaries inquiry, the government had asked public servants to wait on the report before it moves ahead with implementation of an elections promise to increase their salaries.

The Commission’s report recommended that a “Wage and Salary Administration Policy be given consideration for implementation in the public service to provide a reasonable and workable framework within which employees can be paid fair and equitable wages and salaries.”

This, the Report said is in order to promote productivity and overall performance.

“The administration of wages and salaries however must be tied to national laws and market considerations and decisions related to negotiating the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU),” the report added.

It called on the government to maintain a salary structure and describe, evaluate and place all other jobs in the job structure.

Meanwhile, the report also suggested that contract workers on all grades, holding public service positions, be absorbed into the pensionable public service establishment.

“Provided that they are suitably qualified to fill established positions,” it added.

It said contract workers should be restricted to high level professional skills not available in the public service and should be recruited and selected through open competition to obtain the best available candidates, adding that no public servant who retires before attaining the age of 65 should be employed on contract.

The CoI was established to inquire into, report on and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration, conditions and other matters pertaining to the personnel employed in the Guyana Public Service.

The Commission of Inquiry was also expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service, to review the methodology used in the classification and recruitment of public servants. (by Kurt Campbell)

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