Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Zavia Mayne, is committing to undertaking work to strengthen the public-sector collective bargaining process.
He gave this undertaking while speaking on Tuesday (September 24) during the opening of a seminar for industrial relations practitioners at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston.
Mr. Mayne emphasised the importance of modernising the State and enhancing workplace harmony to drive higher levels of productivity within the public sector and ensure competitive compensation for civil servants.
“The public sector, in particular over the last few years of our transformation efforts, has adapted and continues to adopt new ways of working. The public sector, as we know it, must continue to evolve, and there should be no doubt that modernising the State is a priority for Jamaica,” he said.
Mr. Mayne further highlighted the need for an energised and motivated workforce that is competitively compensated within Jamaica’s current stage of development, to achieve the desired levels of productivity.
Consequently, he commended the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU) for its work in compensation management under the salary restructuring exercise, emphasising the Government’s ongoing efforts to transform the public sector to better serve citizens and enhance the welfare of all workers.
The State Minister also assured industrial relations practitioners of his dedication to facilitating open dialogue and addressing concerns, to create an environment where employees can excel.
“You deserve an environment where you can perform at your very best, and we are continuously working to achieve that through facilitating the ventilation of your concerns in the collective bargaining process,” he added.
Reflecting on Jamaica’s collective bargaining history and its role in delivering positive outcomes, Mr. Mayne emphasised the process’ potential to adapt to changing global dynamics and technological advances.
“Even as the world is changing at a rapid rate, influenced by advances in science and technology, small countries like ours are struggling to keep up with these advances; this is compounded by the dynamics in the global power structure and the shifts in demographics. But there is still a place for collective bargaining as a process, that has great potential to ensure the continuation of positive outcomes,” he stated.
Mr. Mayne added, “Jamaica enjoys what we consider to be a stable industrial relations environment, laying a solid foundation for growth and development.”
Meanwhile, Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) President, Techa Clarke-Griffiths, echoed Mr. Mayne’s sentiments, emphasising the importance of understanding the foundation of collective bargaining through educational courses like the seminar.
JIS