Retrenched sugar workers to receive remaining severance pay

Mr. Harmon explained that efforts to have several government ministries and agencies scale back on their budget to make monies available for this purpose has been successful and government now has enough money to move ahead with making the second payment to sugar workers across the country.

Retrenched sugar workers to receive remaining severance pay

Cabinet has approved the second tranche of severance pay for retrenched sugar workers, in keeping with its promise to do so within a specified timeframe, according to State Minister, Joe Harmon.

He made the announcement during his Post Cabinet briefing on today and said the payments will commence soon.

Mr. Harmon explained that efforts to have several government ministries and agencies scale back on their budget to make monies available for this purpose has been successful and government now has enough money to move ahead with making the second payment to sugar workers across the country.

Earlier this year the government had stated that it did not have all of the funds to make the payment at once, but it decided to cut back on other government spending.

Harmon said he anticipates that all of the remaining money will be paid out now.

“We already paid half of it already and the second trance come directly from government sources,” he added.

The first 50% was paid to retrenched workers back in January with promises to pay the other half by mid-year. That commitment represented over $2 billion in severance payments.

Government had faced widespread criticism and protest action following its decision to close several estates and further protest came when the severance payments could not be made at the end of December 2017, the last working day for hundreds of sugar workers.

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