CIG extends bonus to all workers in public bodies

| 23/06/2016 | 24 Comments
Cayman News Service

Cayman Islands Finance committee proceedings

(CNS): Workers in government-owned companies and statutory authorities can also look forward to a 2.2% bonus this month after Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Tuesday that the payment would be extended to all public bodies. The bonus, which was awarded first to civil servants in core government, is a one-off but the premier said it would now go to the broader public sector, provided it does not cause those agencies to exceed their budgets. While the payment, which will not be given to MLAs, will be relatively small for the majority of workers, it was all government could manage, McLaughlin told Finance Committee.

The payment is meant to reflect the “valuable contributions” government employees have made. But over the last few weeks, since the budget debate and Finance Committee proceedings began, the issue of pay inequity and wage stagnation in the service has been a hot topic and various senior civil servants, including the deputy governor, have committed to address the unfair pay scales and increases for many public servants who have not seen their take-home pay improve for years.

The issue of the 2.2% bonus has also caused concern for MLAs, as several have asked government to increase the amount for those at the bottom of the civil service hierarchy or just give it to those earning less than $4,000 per month.

But speaking to legislators on Wednesday, the deputy governor said that all civil servants had been working hard and they all deserved a bonus.

The premier also stated that in three out of the four budgets delivered by the Progressive administration, civil servants had received a cost-of-living hike or a bonus payment and it was going to address the broader pay stagnation in this coming year.

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Category: Government Finance, Politics

Comments (24)

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  1. Sonia says:

    Typical private sector responses yet they get huge bonus every year…I know a few who have purchased cars with their annual bonus. Remember these are the same people who can’t do their jobs without calling civil servants for help. Yet they have the nerve to complain about this well deserved payment.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Franz says they are working hard – does that include the 31 public servants who are on required leave on full pay and facing criminal proceedings? What hope is there for any anti-corruption effort if the deputy governor is green-lighting this overt vote buying exercise?

  3. Anonymous says:

    For most staff this is a trip to Fosters. And next month they go back to the same old pay.
    But for those making $8-10,000 month this is a sumer vacation.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Check teaching staff, including long serving Assistant Teachers. Much more work, same pay for past 10 years.

  5. Anonymous says:

    There is no such thing as a free lunch. Wait until the election is over.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Notice all the road improvements too. Typical Cayman electioneering projects.

  7. Jotnar says:

    Why pretend? Just extend it to all voters.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Ridiculous! Many of these public bodies have been giving pay raises all along, not bound by civil service rules.

    • Anonymous says:

      Quite true, 12:28, and some of the bosses-Maritime Authority, Monetary Authority, Civil Aviation, Pensions Board for example – are already on over $150,000 a year plus benefits. They don’t need no 2.2%.

      • Anonymous says:

        In case you forgot, the majority (if not all) of statutory authorities have to pay for their own pension and healthcare

        • Anonymous says:

          Not true. One expat I know doesn’t pay one cent in healthcare for his whole family, while the Caymanians do – fact!

          • Anonymous says:

            Again not true. The Caymanians don’t pay either.This is propaganda put about to justify their huge salaries.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Watch, all the suspended ones will get it too. So absurd it must be true!

  10. Typical says:

    Typical ppm …..and we thought we voted in a responsible government. They haven’t done much to benefit Caymanians so let’s go ahead and throw some cash at them

  11. Anonymous says:

    Due to the ESO’s report in regards to the cost of living, the firm I work for in the private sector, sent a memo to all staff advising that we would not be getting a cost of living increase in 2016 due to the ESO’s report stating that the cost of living in Cayman did not increase but decreased by 2.5%. Really? I’m not sure which grocery stores they are shopping in but it certainly can’t be the same three main supermarkets we are shopping in! Although performance reviews were done at this firm, having received a good review, we were also told that we would not be receiving salary increases. This was certainly a blow below the belt and unfair which has significantly impacted staff negatively! We too work hard all year and hope to be rewarded with a salary increase/cost of living but everyone was denied either! What safeguards can the government put in place for private sector workers?

  12. Anonymous says:

    All Civil Servants deserve the bonus cause they are working hard??? Has anyone been to Immigration lately? Two windows open, yet 12 people walking around doing nothing

  13. Uncivil Servant says:

    Check the ESO’s statistics on the CPI again….

  14. Anonymous says:

    more wonderland stuff…… read miller-shaw and e&y reports……

  15. Hypocrisy 101 says:

    More VOTE BUYING by the PPM with the public purse. Must be campaign time. Disgraceful!

  16. Anonymous says:

    Election time around the corner?

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