ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has told public servants that they can expect to receive the payment of arrears owed to them by December.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on Thursday night, Browne, who is also the Finance Minister, said that his administration also intends to grant another salary increase to public servants next year, along with a planned rise in the national minimum wage.
“I guarantee you that life is getting better for the majority of the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and we will continue to make sure that we empower the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” he told the meeting.
“In fact, this year we will certainly make sure we do a back pay, hopefully by December, for public servants. Next year, you’re getting another increase again.
“And by the way, next year, (we will) increase the minimum wage because we can’t brag that the country is growing and developing and you don’t increase minimum wage, we’re working for you,” Browne told the meeting.
As of January 1 this year, the national minimum wage is none EC dollars (One EC dollar = 0.37 cents) per hour.
Browne did not provide specifics about the back pay, but said additional details would be revealed in the coming days.
Last month, the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA) had called on the government to sign the long-overdue collective bargaining agreement and resolve outstanding payment issues by mid-October, or face picket action.
The union said that the agreement has been awaiting legal review at the Establishment Division, and the delay is unacceptable given that a new negotiating period for 2024 to 2026 should have already started.
Public servants had received a 14 per cent salary increase two years ago.
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