ERC staff complain of continued non-payment of the 2024 10% Salary increase

Aug 12, 2025 News

Chairman of the ERC, Sheikh Moen-ul-Hack

Kaieteur News – Staff members of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), have expressed deep frustration over the non-payment of the 10% salary increase announced by President Irfaan Ali in 2024.

In a letter addressed to Chairman of the ERC, Sheikh Moen-ul-Hack last July, the staff noted their deep disgust at the continued non -payment. “As of today, July 16, 2025, it has been 240 days and counting since this public announcement, yet we remain excluded from receiving the increase that was promised to ALL public servants,” the letter outlined.

To further exacerbate our concern, the staffers noted that they have learned that the 8% salary increase for 2025 is scheduled to be disbursed this month (July 2025).

“Without a resolution to the outstanding 10%, we are deeply worried that this new increase may also be misapplied or withheld, continuing a pattern of unfair treatment,” the letter added.

The letter further pointed out need to clarify misunderstanding in relation to the statement made by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira, during the February 3, 2025, consideration of the budget estimates regarding salary adjustments received by certain staff in 2023.

“We respectfully submit that the adjustments in question were not unauthorized, nor were they arbitrary or excessive. They were salary corrections undertaken to address longstanding underpayments, not salary increases. We understand that these corrections were necessitated by an accounting or administrative error within the Commission, which is entirely outside the control of the affected employees,” the staff explained in the missive.

Accordingly, the staff has formally requested a full and transparent explanation of the error that led to the misrepresentation of our corrected salaries as increases; the identification of who within the Commission was responsible for these incorrect salaries in the first place; disclosure of what actions, if any, have been taken with regard to the individual(s) responsible, as it appeared the aggrieved staff are being “PUNISHED” for the error of another person and confirmation of whether the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance was fully and accurately informed of all details surrounding the situation before her statement in Parliament.

The affected staff explained in their letter, that they will endeavour to pursue those Ministries with authority for financial oversight to lobby on their own behalf.

The letter further stated “Our current situation is that we have to take the matter into our hands to ensure what is legally, morally, and rightfully owed to us as employees of a constitutional body. The 10% increase announced in 2024 should be paid forthwith, along with the relevant retroactive adjustments, so that we may also receive the correct 8% increase for 2025, based on the accurate salary baseline.”

In light of this, the aggrieved ERC staff members have requested all correspondence, documentation, and records related to this matter, from the initial adjustments to the current date, including the “strong letter” reportedly sent to the Commission, as stated by Minister Teixeira. The letter added, “Let it be clearly stated that if this matter remains unresolved, we will be left with no alternative but to initiate all necessary legal and industrial actions to safeguard our rights and pursue the compensation that we have been unfairly denied for far too long. We would sincerely regret having to take this option in light of this election period.”

To this end, the staff expressed hope that the Commission will sincerely treat the matter with the urgency, seriousness, and transparency.

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ERC, frustration, Non-payment, salary increase, Sheikh Moen-ul-Hack

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