Latest update December 8th, 2024 4:55 AM
Oct 30, 2021 News
Kaieteur News – Yesterday, during a virtual press conference, President Dr. Irfaan Ali reiterated that he is committed to providing salary increases for public servants.
When questioned when he is going to meet with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the President said, “As I have said earlier, this year, we are committed to increases for the public servants and that commitment will be fulfilled before the end of the year.”
In August, the Head of State made the announcement that public servants will be receiving salary increases before the end of 2021. He had stated that the salary increase will be retroactive and was keen to note that it is not his Government’s vision for the discourse to be only about salary increases, rather, it is actively looking at mechanisms that would allow all public servants to live improved lives.
The renewed commitment comes on the heels of the recent Half-Year Report from the Bank of Guyana (BoG) noting that public sector minimum wage remains at $70,000, while consumer price continues to escalate.
“Public sector minimum wage remained at G$70,000 per month while the income tax threshold was unchanged at G$65,000 per month during the first half of 2021,” the report stated.
A table in the report illustrated the increases in the cost of food by 12.5 percent, miscellaneous goods and services by 1.9 percent, transport and communication by 1.8 percent, furniture by 1.7 percent and medical care by 0.3 percent.
It was stated in the report that the food category increased on account of higher prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, oil and fats, and meat, fish and eggs by 54.6 percent, 33.0 percent, 11.3 percent, 8.3 percent, and 6.5 percent, respectively. Transport and communication prices increased on account of higher prices within the operational/ personal transport by 17.1 percent.
While, in contrast, price declines were registered in the categories of clothing, housing, education and footwear and repairs by 1.2 percent, 1.1 percent, 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent respectively.
According to the report, the inflation is measured by the change in the Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI), which hovered around low single digits during the first four months of the year.
The rate of inflation, more than doubled to 5.6 percent at end-June 2021, on account of sharp increases in food prices, particularly, vegetable and vegetable products, as a result of supply shortfall following the devastating floods in May and June.
Additionally, it was highlighted that higher oil prices also negatively impacted the transport and communication and miscellaneous goods and services sub-categories.
Dec 08, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Head coach Darren Sammy exudes optimism and focus as his troops take aim at a possible sweep of their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh at Warner Park in St...…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- Dennis Chabrol asked Bharrat Jagdeo a simple question and Jagdeo responded with acrobatics... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The election of a new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS),... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]