The 3% pay rise promised to Montserrat’s government workers in April will be backdated in their September paycheques.
In a press release on 21 August, Governor Sarah Tucker, head of the public service, said the delay in the salary bump was due to amendments to tax rates.
“Tax rates have now been updated in the system which makes the payment of the increase more complex,” she said.
“The teams involved needed to run tests to ensure the calculations are correct, and that taxation is at the appropriate levels.”
Tucker said that while the delay was not ideal, it was essential to ensure the necessary checks were conducted to reduce the likelihood of mistakes in the payment process.
“I hope the work that Inland Revenue, Finance and Human Resources Management Unit has done will minimise errors and avoid overpayments of salary or tax that then have to be corrected,” she said.
The government press release asked public workers to check their salaries carefully in September to confirm correct payment.
The Human Resources Management Unit will provide a contact point for any queries nearer the time and seek to ensure swift resolution, it said.
Premier Joseph E Farrell announced the 3% pay rise for the public service in his budget speech in April.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office approved the funding following budget support mission discussions with representatives from the government’s ministries and departments.
