The Government of Jamaica has purported that there will be a shrink in the existing public sector salary scale. This decrease which serves as a part of the Compensation Review plan will reduce the existing 325 salary scales to 16 bands.

These 16 bands, as underscored by the Finance Ministry, will reduce the complexity found within the compensation system.

In addition, as part of the ongoing transformation of the public sector of Jamaica, the Government will also be restructuring the compensation system to address current and emerging issues relating to the structure of compensation, to create an equitable and defensible pay and job evaluation system for the public service.

As such, a total of 1040 jobs have been evaluated to confirm alignment with the new salary bands.

Furthermore, the Government will also be restructuring a system of allowances with the intent of eliminating most of them.

As such, travelling allowances, duty allowances and qualification increments are said to be absorbed into the workers’ salaries.

However, overtime, uniform, mileage and subsistence compensation will be continued.

The current taxi, shift, seniority and foreign services allowances are to be continued.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke has alluded that  the compensation review is expected to cost more than $100 billion over three years.