By Vernon Daley, Staff ReporterSALARIES FOR parliamentarians were increased last month - the second time this year.
The latest wage hike, which became effective October 1, represents a 16 per cent increase for parliamentarians. It is linked to a general increase to civil servants aimed at bringing their wages to 80 per cent of those paid in the private sector for comparable work.
Deputy Financial Secretary Patsy Richardson explained that not all public servants had received the same percentage increase in salaries as the adjustments were determined by how close their wages were to the 80 per cent target.
"It was not like an across-the-board adjustment. It was an adjustment at different levels based on where they were (compared) to market," Mrs. Richardson said yesterday.
Under the latest adjustment, Members of Parliament now receive a salary of $2.2 million, up from the $1.9 million they took home previously. At the same time, the salary for a regular Cabinet Minister has moved from about $3 million to $3.5 million. The Minister of Finance's salary has moved from $3.2 million to $3.8 million.
The Prime Minister's salary has moved from just more than $4 million to $4.7 million while the post of Deputy Prime Minister will attract a salary of $4.1 million, up from $3.5 million.
It is the second time in six months that parliamentarians have received a pay rise. On April 1, their salaries were increased by eight per cent in keeping with similar increases for civil servants over the two-year period 2002 to 2004.
In addition to their salaries, parliamentarians are given other perks such as travelling, clothing and housing allowances. Ministers are also provided with cars and drivers.
Wayne Jones, president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), explained yesterday that there was an automatic link between the salary movements of civil servants and parliamentarians because of the relationship between the pay of Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries.
The annual salary for a Cabinet Minister is fixed at $52 more than that of a Permanent Secretary. There is also a link between the salary of a Cabinet Minister and other parliamentarians.
Last month's increase was the first of four payments that will see the salaries of civil servants and parliamentarians moving to the 80 per cent market value target by 2005.
"We are going to have four payments to meet that figure and then you can move from there. The first one was October. Come April next year, you'll have the second; April of 2004, the third; and April of 2005, the fourth," Mr. Jones said.
The proposal to pay civil servants 80 per cent of market rates was agreed to, in principle, by the Government in the 1992/93 salary negotiations.
