GOVERNMENT AND trade union leaders will make another attempt this week to save a wage restraint agreement, or memorandum of understanding (MoU) from unravelling. Cabinet on Monday instructed Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, to meet again with union officials.
The meeting is to determine what can be done to ease the strain thousands of public sector workers have been enduring since February last year when the MoU was signed.
Speaking at Jamaica House yesterday, following Monday's Cabinet meeting, Information Minister Burchell Whiteman said he was unable to disclose what recommendations Dr. Davies took to Cabinet on Monday, following meetings with union leaders and Finance Ministry officials last week.
It is expected that among the recommendations put forward by the trade union leaders are measures to ease the financial constraints on public sector workers in light of the current MoU wage freeze.
CHANGING PROPOSED DATE
Unions have also proposed that the date for the lowering of the income tax threshold be brought forward from January 1, next year, as well as a one-off payment for all public sector workers.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has indicated that discussions regarding possible adjustments to the MoU should be completed by this week.
