THE EDITOR, Sir:
PLEASE AFFORD me space to raise a few points with regards to standard of living of the average public sector worker especially one working in our educational institutions as an administrative staff.
Most members of the administrative staff of the public schools cannot cope financially. The last salary increase was enacted when the US$:J$ was 1: 40. Since then the value of the US$ is in the region of J$59.
Let us take, the worker who is earning J$20,143 (US$503.58) per month in 2001; the same worker is now earning J$20,143 (US$341.41) per month in 2003. Let's be mindful of the fact that the figure quoted is before statutory deductions. This devaluation results in continuous increase in the cost of goods and services that this same worker has to acquire.
SALARY
All public sector workers, except for probably our parliamentarians, are faced with a salary that depreciates drastically while the cost of living increases drastically.
Our leaders are very insensitive and continue to talk about production and efficiency, when the workers cannot afford more than two nights' dinners with the salary they earn. Most public sector workers cannot afford to educate themselves to move on, so they are left in the bondage of the Journey Of the Broke (JOB) to enter into oblivion.
I believe that salary should be indexed to the value of the US currency in such case, the worker will be earning a constant rate and eventually be able to cope with the increased cost of goods and services as a result of the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar.
REVALUATION
The government needs to revalue the services rendered by public sector workers and they will see a dramatic increase in production and efficiency. Salary negotiation should be completed expeditiously, giving the workers a sense of satisfaction and also the appointments of workers to their respective positions should not take the length of time it currently takes.
I am, etc.,
CARL B. DAVIS (Rev'd) Pastor
Maranatha Tabernacle
of Prayer
212 Brunswick Avenue,
Spanish Town P. O.,
