Norton calls for 25% salary increases for public servants

Dec 13, 2025 News

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…says 50% possible for Christmas with booming oil sector

(Kaieteur News) – Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey Norton has called on the government of Guyana (GoG) to increase public servants’ salary by 25% for Christmas.

During a press conference on Friday, Norton pointed to the increased production of oil and gas offshore Guyana and further growth projections for the sector which he believes justifies the payout to Guyanese in the public sector.

In fact, the Leader believes that even 50% increases are possible as he underlined the need for the purchasing power of Guyanese to be improved.

He told this newspaper that he does not support an across-the-board salary increase as it would not reap the benefits, he envisions for those in real need. “We do not like across the board increases because they widen the gap between rich and poor.”

“The President earns approximately G$34,800,000 per year which translates to $2.9 million monthly.  The Ministers and Leader of the Opposition earn approximately G$21,600,000 a year which works out to approximately $1.8 million monthly, including benefits,” Norton said as he highlighted the sharp contrast in the earnings of a minimum wage public servant who is paid $100,000 per month and only $1.2 million annually.

He pointed out that this means a Minister earns more in one month than what the average worker earns in a year.

According to Norton, “This comparison shows a wide gap between the earning of the government elite and the statutory minimum earnings. Public servants, formal sector workers, and informal sector earners alike have felt the effects of stifling low wages and salaries and rising costs. Public servants carry the burden that while national wealth is rising, their purchasing power is collapsing.”

As such, he called on the administration to ensure more money is directed to public servants to narrow the gap between the government elite and public servants.

The Leader was keen to note that the Guyana’s oil production and the wider sector have expanded very quickly, with official reporting and government projections pointing to rapid increases in daily output and project ramp-ups through the remainder of this decade.

“Government sources and industry reports show production and revenue growth that position Guyana to benefit materially from the Stabroek Block development and related projects. The government expects total revenues to reach $1,024.5 billion in 2025, an increase of 30.5% over the $784.6 billion reported in 2024. Yet workers are being offered a ridiculously low 8% increase in 2025,” Norton argued.

On the other hand, he pointed out that private oil companies have reported very large revenues and cash flows tied to Guyana operations.

As such, he made it clear that citizens legitimately expect the state to transfer an equitable share of the revenues into durable investment in public sector wages.

He said that a minimum of 25% increase in public-servant wages would help to restore purchasing power for state employees and help boost the non-oil economy.

In fact, the leader shared five compelling reasons for the 25% increase he believes should be paid this Christmas season. According to him, “Many public servants have seen real earnings decline in the face of inflation and higher living cost; if oil revenues are expanding, a portion must be used to fund equitable compensation for those who deliver core public services; increased public wages would help support local businesses and consumption in the short term; competitive public-sector pay is critical to retain skilled staff required to manage expanded public investment and regulatory duties tied to the oil economy and government’s own reporting estimated total wages and salaries in the public sector at approximately  $227 billion by end-2025. A uniform 25% increase on that base would raise the annual wage bill by about GYD 56.75 billion to $283.75 billion. That is affordable.”

Even though the oil market is volatile, Norton said the pay increases would be sustainable.

He explained that the PNC/R has always called for government to develop the non-oil sector through revenues earned from the petroleum industry.

Additionally, the leader said his opinion is that a portion of earnings from oil and gas activities should return to the public sector. “I am of the view that some amount of resources from oil should go to funding public servants and once that is done with expansion in the non-oil sector and ensuring more businesses come on stream then it is sustainable.”

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• Aubrey Norton, oil, PNC/R, public servants, revenue, salary increases

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