HGP Nightly News – Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has pushed back against concerns over public service pay, reminding that government workers are already benefitting from significant salary increases under a landmark two-year agreement between the Guyana Government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
Under the agreement signed in December 2024, public servants received a retroactive 10 percent salary increase effective January 1, 2024, followed by an additional eight percent increase in 2025. Jagdeo said the structure of the deal meant that workers began receiving their increases earlier than they typically would.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo explained that in the absence of an agreement, salary increases are usually paid in a lump sum toward the end of the year. This time, however, negotiations with the union allowed for earlier disbursement.
“Normally, if you don’t reach agreement with the union, you would collect the whole year’s increase at Christmas time,” Jagdeo said. “But we had a negotiated arrangement with the union, so people started collecting their payment for this year earlier in the year.”
Looking ahead, the Vice President said future salary adjustments will continue to be determined through collective bargaining, with the necessary budgetary allocations made in each fiscal cycle. He added that President Dr Irfaan Ali did not need to pre-emptively announce salary increases in his recent national address, since such matters are traditionally addressed during the budget process.
“The President didn’t need to announce that now,” Jagdeo said. “That will be in the budget for salary increases next year.”
Beyond across-the-board increases, the GPSU agreement also delivered targeted boosts for thousands of public servants based on grade level and years of service. Employees in Grades 1 to 6 with at least four years of service were moved to the midpoint of their salary scale, resulting in increases of up to 13 percent. Those with eight or more years of service in the same grades were advanced to the maximum of their scale, receiving increases of up to 26 percent.
Public servants in Grades 7 to 8 with a minimum of four years in their current scale were also eligible for an additional monthly payment equivalent to the difference between the minimum and midpoint of Grade 6, translating to increases of up to 11 percent.
In addition, the government introduced qualification allowances aimed at encouraging education and professional advancement, effective January 1, 2025. Under the new policy, ACCA-qualified employees receive an additional $15,000 per month, while holders of master’s degrees and doctoral degrees receive $22,000 and $32,000 monthly, respectively.
Jagdeo said the combined measures reflect a structured approach to public service compensation, one that prioritises negotiation, fiscal planning, and long-term workforce development rather than ad hoc announcements.
