In a release issued yesterday, the Director said the Department of Human Resources embarked on two phases to complete the payment of 2018 increments for the 2017 work year.

But according to Donovan-Stevens, although departments and ministries had received employee reports to validate eligibility and salary changes by October of this year, to date, only 80 percent of these reports have been returned to the Department of Human Resources.

She explained that these reports impact the overall payments of increments. She further said reports already received have authorised the commencement of increment payments to officers.

Effective November 30, 2021 increment payments began to be distributed to officers who have not had any salary changes between January 2018 to present. These payments have continued for the December 15, 2021 pay cycle, the Director said.

1,200 increment transactions so far

It was further disclosed that the funds disbursed thus far represent 1,200 increment transactions, which reflects 90 percent of eligible public officers and 10 percent of eligible retirees.

So far, an estimated value of $2.9 million has been paid towards increments, Donovan-Stevens revealed.

She said this payment is reflective of transactions for eligible persons who worked a minimum of nine months in 2017. Sher offered assurances that increment payments will continue for the December 31st pay period and beyond.

“Considering the details involved with the administrative review of officers who have had salary changes, those outstanding payments to eligible officers will be paid early in the new year, pending the receipt of the outstanding employee reports from ministries and departments,” the Director added.

This exercise is expected to be completed by February 28, 2022, she disclosed.

Phase two of the process, the Director said, will see the continuation of retirees’ benefits and pensions being appraised and recalculated, where necessary. More than 100 retirees’ benefits were reportedly reviewed and prepared.