What President Ali’s Pay Plan Means for You: Salary Hikes, Allowances, and Scholarships
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has revealed a series of initiatives to enhance public servants’ earnings and benefits in Guyana, emphasising the government’s commitment to economic support and professional development. He made these announcements during his remarks at the Guyana Police Force’s Christmas Breakfast.
Salary Increases
•2024: A 10% retroactive salary increase, effective January 1, 2024.
•2025: An additional 8% salary increase planned for next year.
•Combined, these adjustments reflect a 35% cumulative salary increase over four years.
Dr. Ali highlighted that the increases form part of a two-year agreement between the Government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
Qualification Allowances (Effective January 1, 2025)
In line with incentivizing education and professional growth, new allowances will be introduced for public servants with advanced qualifications:
•ACCA Certification: $15,000 monthly.
•Master’s Degree: $22,000 monthly.
•Doctoral Degree: $32,000 monthly.
Allowance Adjustments
•Uniform Allowances:
•$5,000 annual increase for health workers.
•$10,000 annual increase for public servants (7% rise).
•Hinterland and Riverine Assignments:
•$35,000 monthly housing allowance for seconded/transferred employees.
•$8,000 monthly station allowance (300% increase).
•Risk Allowances: 50% increase.
•Motor Car and Travel Allowances: 104% increase.
Additional Benefits
•Duty-Free Concessions:
•100 annual duty-free allowances, prioritizing long-serving staff nurses and senior personnel to promote retention.
•General Schedule (GS) Adjustments:
•GS Grades 1-6 with at least four years in their scale will move to the midpoint, resulting in up to a 13% increase.
•Grades 7-8 will receive an 11% pay boost for four years of service in their current scale.
•Scholarships: Continued allocation of scholarships to public servants for career advancement.
Historic Agreement for University Staff
The government announced a landmark three-year agreement with the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA). This agreement includes:
•10% salary increases in 2024,
•8% in 2025, and
•9% in 2026, ensuring alignment with agreements concluded with the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU).
Impact and Government Gratitude
Dr. Ali reiterated the government’s dedication to enhancing the livelihoods of public servants through consistent measures since 2020:
•7% salary increase in 2021,
•8% retroactive increase in 2022, and
•6.5% increase in 2023.
The government also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the GPSU, GTU, UGWU, UGSSA, and other stakeholders for their collaborative approach. Acknowledging the contributions of public servants, the government pledged continued efforts to achieve national development goals through improved cooperation and professional development.