Steps Taken to Address Fixed-Term Contracts in Public Sector

Government Senator, Abka Fitz-Henley, has reiterated that the Government has taken steps to address the vexed issue of fixed-term contracts within the public sector.

“Only a few weeks ago, a senior executive of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions commended the Administration for moving more than 10,000 workers from contractual arrangements to permanent employment,” Senator Fitz-Henley said.

“Additionally, in October last year, the Government was able to announce 927 new permanent posts in the public sector for medical practitioners, thereby eliminating the archaic and counterproductive practice of employing doctors on contracts without them being assigned to a post,” he added.

Senator Fitz-Henley was closing the State of the Nation debate in the Senate on February 2.

He also informed that Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, has indicated publicly that the Government intends to come down hard on public-sector entities that indulge in the practice of unfair contract employment, breaching the country’s laws.

“It won’t be fixed overnight in its totality, but the issue of contract work is an issue the Government is not only seized of [but] we have been taking steps to address it, and steady gains are being made in this regard,” Senator Fitz-Henley stated.

Speaking in the House of Representatives last year, Dr. Clarke gave the commitment that the Government will address the matter.

“It’s a big problem. We did not start the problem, but this Government will begin and advance the process of addressing this problem. The Government will move towards regularising consistently renewed contract workers and moving them to structured employment,” Dr. Clarke said.

Source: JIS News