Cabinet to meet over wage stalemate with Police Federation
Published:Tuesday | January 2, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday responded to the Jamaica Police Federation's request for his intervention in the wage negotiations stalemate between the federation and the Government, saying that the matter would be discussed at a Cabinet meeting next Monday.
Holness, in a letter to the federation yesterday, obtained by The Gleaner, pointed to the country's economic recovery programme.
"As an integral stakeholder in our nation's development, you would also share the consideration of the delicate state and stage of Jamaica's economic recovery," Holness said, adding that any action taken with regard to the wage negotiation "will determine whether or not we stay on course to recovery".
The prime minister said that the issues raised by the federation required the input of Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance as they were far-reaching and could have an impact on the economy.
The Government is currently implementing strategies, including slashing the public-sector wage bill, to meet a target of nine per cent or less wage-to-GDP ratio by 2019 under its standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
The letter said that the Cabinet was scheduled to meet next Monday, at which time the matter surrounding the stalemate between the Government and the Police Federation was expected to be discussed.
The federation has rejected a six per cent increase offer over two years.