The Barbados authorities says it is able to resume negotiations concerning the salaries and wages for members of the general public service following the adjournment of talks in December final yr.
A authorities assertion mentioned its negotiating crew, led by the Ministry of the Public Service, and together with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Financial Affairs and Funding, and the Central Financial institution of Barbados, is ready for the resumption of the talks with the settlement of all events.
The negotiation course of for the general public sector was launched October 18, 2022, with representatives from the island’s commerce unions and employees associations in attendance.
– Commercial –
“At that assembly, the broad parameters of the negotiation framework have been mentioned, together with inter alia, the worldwide challenges confronted by middle-income international locations equivalent to Barbados, in securing funds, the shocks that impacted Barbados on the nationwide degree, together with the COVID-19 pandemic, the decline within the tourism market and the impression of the volcanic ash fall,” the assertion famous.
It mentioned, notably, all events made a dedication to take care of the confidentiality of the negotiation train and that through the ensuing interval October 19 -24, 2022, the negotiating crew engaged the assorted commerce unions/staff’ consultant our bodies.
It mentioned the primary spherical of the wage negotiation course of was accomplished October 24, and staff’ representatives have been invited to submit adjusted proposals that might take into accounts Authorities’s limitations on paying important across-the-board wage will increase, given its constrained fiscal area.
“Within the spirit of that settlement, the assorted union/worker representatives submitted amended proposals between November 2 and 18, 2022, and a second spherical of negotiations commenced on November 2,” the assertion mentioned, including {that a} consensus was reached that the second spherical of the negotiation course of could be paused for the month of December, given the exigencies communicated by the commerce union/staff’ representatives.
“The federal government’s negotiating crew stands able to resume the 2022-2023 salaries dialogue within the spirit of its dedication to our valued stakeholders within the public sector, in addition to their representatives,” the assertion added.
CMC/