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Thoughts on public service payment system

Sep 08, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I pause to pen this letter as it relates to the COI on Public Sector roles, functions, recruitment, training, remuneration, conditions of service, etc. Just a few weeks ago the World Bank 2016 report revealed that 93% of persons leaving Guyana have obtained tertiary education. This should not be a surprise to anyone. However, it is a very important point to note, people leave mostly to seek better livelihood for themselves and family. So, I do hope that in the reviewing of working conditions and payments for public servants, the COI would have taken such factors into consideration.
Firstly, I want to point out that Guyanese are being tremendously underpaid and the current working conditions are badly in need of an upgrade, which is why I think the government of the day decided to look into this matter. But on the other hand, how fair would it be when it comes to the remuneration of ALL public servants. Why not focus more on reviewing the minimum wage instead of percentage increases? Why not give workers a decent take home pay so that their livelihood can increase? Isn’t $80k to $100k decent enough for minimum wage? We can compare this with Caribbean countries like Barbados, Trinidad, Antigua, etc. while taking into consideration the value of our dollar.
Secondly, I’m hoping that the same rationale used to pay Ministers is being considered for qualified public servants because what would make their degrees special from another person’s, that’s if all (and I mean Ministers) of them have degrees.? Public servants also need the benefits that their position would attract.
According to Minister Jordan:
“The union asked for across-the-board (increases); we said we are not going down that road. I don’t know whether the union has accepted it or not. What I’m saying is that across-the-board has widened the divide. It has literally destroyed scales and all these things. I give you 40 percent across the board, you are earning $1M, the increase is $400,000. I give you the same percent increase, you are earning $100,000 – how much is the increase? Look at the gap,” Minister Jordan explained. (Extracted from KN dated July 21, 2016.)
This leave me to wondering what was the rationale behind Minister Jordan’s statement since the higher income bracket pays more tax than the lower income bracket. And further, whatever happened to being paid the salary according to your position/qualifications? Maybe we would need to close the gap between Ministers and low-level salary earners if that is the case. Don’t forget that in all fairness, people are paid higher salaries because of their expertise and qualifications and the accountability/responsibility of that goes with that position. You just can’t take that away from them, whoever you might be. There is a pay grade for a specific reason so maybe that is another reason why the educated Guyanese are leaving Guyana, since we seem to forget that critical point.
I would suggest that Government and Union come to a decision and fix the minimum wage so that a public servant can have a decent take home, be it high or low-level, so both would all be able to buy the average basket of good. Finally, it is my opinion that the increment system be used as a basis for one’s performance which would give a yearend bonus. e.g. 2% to 5% bonus for outstanding performance. This system may be effective but on the flip side who determines your performance was outstanding? This is where brains need to get together to work out an ideal system because humans would always be human.
Nkasi Carter

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