Sweeper/cleaners at public schools to immediately receive full-time contracts with gratuity

Sweepers/cleaners employed at public schools across the country will immediately be offered employment on a full-time contract gratuity basis at the public service minimum wage level. This was approved by the Cabinet under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali as the Government take steps to regularise the manner in which sweeper/cleaners are employed and paid at public schools. According to a press statement released on Friday from the Cabinet, "Sweeper-cleaners have long expressed the desire to also be considered as regular employees at public institutions and receive similar benefits." The statement noted that this decision will bring closure to a long outstanding matter which has affected this category of workers in the public school system. The Government has also taken steps to address pending anomalies in the salaries being paid to other categories of employees, including some teachers who are affected by inconsistencies in their pay grades depending on the year in which they were appointed. "Government has already started working to take stock of this problem with a view to

resolving it going forward. These initiatives all form part of this Government's ongoing efforts to improve the conditions of employment of public sector workers."

In December 2020, central government employees received a one-off grant of $25,000, while in December 2021, they received an across-the-board seven percent increase. This

increase was provided for teachers, members of the disciplined services, constitutional office holders, as well as government pensioners. The one-month tax free bonus was also paid to members of the disciplined services, an initiative that was halted by the APNU+AFC administration.