REGULARIZATION OF STATUS AND NON-PAYMENT OF INCREASES IN SALARIES AND ONE-OFF BONUS OF $25,000 TO SWEEPER CLEANERS
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) finds it heartening to note that Government has finally shown testicular fortitude in dealing with the matter concerning Sweeper Cleaners, whereby after decades of representation, approval has been finally granted for them to receive monthly salaries at prevailing minimum wages of the Public Service. It is however disheartening to note that these Sweeper Cleaners would be retained on a contract gratuity basis and not be coopted into the permanent pensionable establishment, thus ensuring that their years of service to the Country could be preserved and meaningful superannuation benefits granted. The GPSU had always clearly expressed this requirement to Government, as it is considered most deserving to their security of tenure.
It is apposite to note that the Guyana Public Service Union wrote ad nauseum to Governments on the matter, with a view to alleviating the economic pressures on these workers, who gave yeoman service to the Country, but who over the years were condemned to a life of misery because of poor remuneration and no superannuation benefits at the end of their tenures. Government's decision to regularize the pay structures and recognizing the need for superannuation benefits, should have added some permanence to the perceived structure to ensure that retirement would come with some benefits.
Government’s announcement of the new measure has left much to be desired, since the proclamation has not included effective dates or its retroactivity. Since November 5, 2013, Cabinet took decisions “For the regularization in the recruitment and improvement of Sweepers/Cleaners employed in relation to Schools”. This decision was to have retroactivity to July 2013. However, the Sweeper Cleaners received no relief, mainly because of indecisiveness on the part of the Ministry of Education and Regional Administrative officials. This is now another attempt to resolve this matter, albeit to the detriment of the Sweepers/Cleaners.
The GPSU views with grave concern Government’s hesitancy to rightly place Sweepers/Cleaners on the permanent establishment of the Public Service ensuring that they equally receive benefits, including salary adjustments, similar to that of other workers within their category.
What is most alarming is that to date these workers are still being treated with little or no respect, even though they continue to give of their best, while performing duties under hazardous conditions, with little or no personal protective equipment.
These workers have not been in receipt of increases in salaries since 2019 and were discriminated against when the payment of the one-off twenty-five thousand dollars bonus was paid to public servant during 2020. This situation continued in 2021, following the imposition of the seven percent across the board pay-out.