The ruling party of the nation is now seeing the largest pay hikes in decades, with the prime minister expected to earn close to $30 million annually by the end of the following year.
The raises, which start in 2022 and last for three years, are a result of the government’s evaluation of public sector remuneration. The Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Nigel Clarke, made the announcements in the House of Representatives.
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The following are the updated compensation categories:
Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition: $20.1 million in 2022, $22.7 million in 2023, and $25.7 million in 2024; Prime Minister: $22.3 million as of April 1, 2022, $25.3 million as of April 1, 2023, and $28.6 million as of April 1, 2024.
Minister of Finance: $19.2 million in 2022, $21.7 million in 2023, and $24.6 million in 2024; Cabinet Ministers and Speaker of the House: $17.8 million in 2022, $20.2 million in 2023, and $22.8 million in 2024; Minister of State: $14.3 million in 2022, $16.2 million in 2023, and $18.3 million in 2024; Parliamentary Secretary and Deputy Speaker of the House: $13.4 million in 2022, $15.2 million in 2023,
Over a three-year period, the increased compensation for lawmakers would cost $1.7 billion.
The housing and telephone benefits formerly received by the political directorate, according to Clarke, will end on April 1, 2022.
Politicians in municipal government have also benefitted from significant raises; starting in April 2023, the mayor’s pay in Kingston will more than double from $3.8 million to $10.1 million.
Clarke emphasized that the court, whose members have benefitted from a 100% rise over the past three years, continues to be the best-paid part of the government despite the enormous increases in the political class.
He also mentioned how the senior leadership of the whole public sector, including the police, nurses, teachers, and physicians, had received substantial rises totaling millions of dollars.
Some employees at lower levels of the public sector received raises that exceeded 200%.
