The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) are calling on Finance Minister Fayval Williams to withdraw or clarify recent statements she made about compensation packages for public sector workers.

In separate releases this afternoon, the unions said the alleged statements by the Minister which suggest that the majority of public servants have already received a salary increase for the 2025/2026 financial year, are false.

According to the JCTU the 7.5 per cent increase referenced by the Minister in a news interview, resulted from the movement of eligible public sector workers by up to three increments on their salary scales.

JCTU President Saint Patrice Ennis said this is not a newly negotiated increase for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

He noted that it is a deferred entitlement flowing from the previously agreed 2022 to 2025 public sector compensation restructuring process—a commitment that was implemented without retroactive effect.

He said this adjustment was agreed to on September 12, 2024, under the administration of former Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke.

The JCTU was supported by the JCSA which said it strongly refutes the Minister’s statement, because it is inaccurate and could prove potentially harmful to the reputation and image of all civil servants.

The unions urged the Minister to withdraw or clarify her comments.