The Ministry of Labour and the Public Service released a statement over the weekend seeking to clarify the government’s plan to increase the salaries of civil servants after remarks made by Bahamas Public Service Union President, Kimsley Ferguson were circulated online.

The statement assured that the salary review and increases exercise is rolling out as planned. It also refuted claims by Ferguson that his union was blindsided by the salary review process saying a meeting was held on May 22nd including the Financial Secretary, Mr. Ferguson and his legal representative.

“At that meeting, the government outlined the initial findings of the compensation review, explained the categories affected in the first phase and clearly stated that future phases world include employees under the union’s purview. Mr. Ferguson was encouraged to submit his updated industrial agreement proposal so that timely negotiations could proceed,” ministry officials said.

The statement also addressed the salaries of persons working in quasi-government entities. It said, “while we support their right to fair compensation, they are subject to separate arrangements and cannot be included in the same salary adjustment exercise as public servants. Anyone suggesting otherwise is either misinformed or attempting to mislead the public.”

Minister of Labour of the Public Service, the Hon. Pia Glover Rolle spoke with ZNS News reiterating the statement regarding the exclusion of people employed by quasi government entities from the salary review process. She said, “corporations, as everyone is aware, are governed by independent boards and they maintain their own pay scales. And these pay scales are generally superior in salary and benefits compared to public servants. These packages are separate industrial agreements have been, the tools by which they have been negotiated by their respective unions. And as such these employees will fall out of the purview of our government central public administration.”

The Minister said when the government refers to public servants they are speaking of employees that fall under the central public administration. This does not include those employed by corporations, authorities or other quasi government models.