THE GOVERNMENT has apologised to public-sector employees for announcing a wage freeze without concluding consultations with unions representing those workers.

Members of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) have been upset that the Government had taken a unilateral approach in arriving at a decision to freeze public-sector wages.

Finance and the Public Service Minister Audley Shaw yesterday said the Government regretted that it did not facilitate a final sign-off by the memorandum of understanding (MOU) monitoring committee before declaring the wage freeze.

JCTU General Secretary Wayne Jones accepted the minister's apology in the spirit of social partnership.

Shaw's contrite utterances came yesterday at a meeting between government officials and representatives from the JCTU.

Both sides agreed that dialogue on the public-sector wage freeze should continue.

A release from the Ministry of Finance said the discussions would be carried out to "take into account the fiscal constraints, the interests of the public-sector workers, as well as the immediate, short- and long-term development of the country".

At yesterday's meeting, Shaw formally introduced Arthur Williams as state minister of finance and the public service, who would now chair the MOU monitoring committee.

Meanwhile, the Opposition People's National Party said it was deeply concerned about Prime Minister Bruce Golding's "confrontational" approach to dealing with public sector workers.

Portia Simpson Miller, opposition leader, said: "I am repeating my call for the Government to adopt an approach of consultation rather than confrontation to the issue of wage negotiations … "

She said the administration should have "proper regard for the contractual obligations that have been negotiated in good faith between the Government and the workers".

Simpson Miller said the Opposition understood the challenges facing the country but contended that the Government should have sought consensus with its stakeholders instead of the "unilateralism that is becoming more evident".

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com