The role of the Public Service Establishment Division is to review, develop and implement human resource management policies that produce and deliver efficient and cost effective output.

The Division works to ensure that:

• Government recruits and retains qualified and competent staff;

• Remuneration packages in the public sector are rational and competitive;

• Human resource management standards and policies are in keeping with best practices;

• Work disruption through industrial disputes is minimized;

• Quality of service delivered to clients is consistent with acceptable standards.

The following were the major accomplishments for FY2001/02:

• Completed processing of 2,238 pension related cases;

• Finalized amendment to the Constables (Special) Act to provide enhanced benefits for retired Special Constables;

• Examined draft amendments to the following Pensions Legislations to provide enhanced benefits;

  • Pensions (Teachers) Act

  • Pensions Act

  • Pensions (Parochial Officers) Act

  • The Defence (Retired Pay, Pensions and Other Grants) Regulations.

• Obtained Cabinet Approval for amendment to the Government Employees (Compassionate Gratuities) Resolution to provide improved benefits to temporary, part-time, daily paid and casual employees;

• Examined contributory pension schemes for Executive Agencies/Regional Health Authorities;

• Played an active role with respect to the Public Sector Modernization Project to ensure that the pension benefits of persons employed to the Executive Agencies and Regional Health Authorities are not compromised;

• GOJ Pensioners received increased benefits during the course of FY2001/02;

• Published the Civil Service Establishment General Order 2001 and the Civil Service Establishment General Amendment Order 2001;

• Several databases were created and/or updated in order to improve administrative efficiencies throughout the Public Sector. These included the following the Establishment of a database for KSAC, the Parish Councils, four (4) Executive Agencies viz-a-viz: Registrar General Department, Registrar of Companies, Management Institute for National Development, Administrator General’s Department and an updated Civil Service Establishment database. Additionally, the database of non-teaching staff in schools, colleges and the University of Technology was updated (50 % completed);

• Conducted a wage bill survey for all establishment posts, temporary and contract posts on the Government budget;

• Began an audit of 41,098 posts in Central Government;

• Furnished the Day Care Centre on site at the Ministry of Finance and Planning and acquired two buses to replace those retired from service;

• Presented Long Service Award Medals and Certificates to 538 Civil Servants, who had served for 26 years and over at a cost of $2mn;

• Processed and approved applications for Motor Vehicles and Miscellaneous loans amounting to $40mn and $6mn, respectively;

• Facilitated appeals of Health Sector Groups against Health Sector Pay Review Committee Report. In the case of the Junior Doctors’ Association the services of an independent moderator was engaged to critique the process;

• Provided technical support/advice for the 2000/02 public sector wage negotiations;

• Settled 20 Heads of Agreement related to Central and Local Government Groups for the two-year contract period 2000/02;

• Reduced the number of bargaining units within the Civil Service by 32%;

• Received 47 wage claims and settled 21 from parastatals;

• Maintained relative industrial peace. There were few disruptions with only five (5) strikes, three (3) of which were of a three (3) hour duration whilst the others lasted two (2) days and three (3) days respectively;

• Received advice/recommendations from the Permanent Salaries Review Board on 47 wage claims for contract periods 2000/02 and 2001/02;

• Fifteen (15) special assignments and appropriate organizational restructuring were undertaken for the following Ministries:

  • Water and Housing

  • Tourism and Sports

  • Office of the Prime Minister

  • Industry and Investment

  • Commerce and Technology

• Collaboration ongoing with respect to the implementation of five (5) Executive Agencies;

  • National Environment Planning Agency

  • National Land Agency

  • Jamaica Information Service

  • Child Development Agency

  • National Works Agency

• Modernization and restructuring being done for the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Local Government and Community Development, Transport and Works, Land and Environment and the Customs Department;

• Established a career management programme in seven (7) ministries;

  • Twenty-five (25) Human Resource Management Audits conducted to ensure consistency with Human Resource Systems and Procedures.

  • Thirteen (13) Human Resource Managers’ Network Meetings were convened to equip Human Resource Managers with information on current issues.

• Approximately 300 cases processed and finalized and 11 referrals made for professional help under the administration of the Public Sector Employee Assistance Programme;

• Initiated comprehensive Training Needs Analysis survey. Programme was expected to maintain one hundred and forty-two (142) ongoing awards and one hundred and twenty (120) new awards both locally and overseas. This was largely done. For the first time in many years much higher numbers of civil servants pursuing Masters’ Programmes at the UWI Mona were assisted, with respect to tuition fees and books as well as some pursuing distance programmes in collaboration with overseas universities;

• Two hundred and twenty (220) new scholastic awards accessed from 26 donor countries and agencies - a total donor assistance of approximately $100mn. Jamaica was awarded over 100 new awards under the Cuba/Jamaica Bilateral and the Cuba/Caricom Scholarship Programmes combined. There was an almost 100% acceptance of awards;

• Reclassifications and market-pay adjustments completed for over 1,200 posts in the Science and Technology Group. It is expected that these adjustments will assist in the retention of staff in these critical areas;

• Pay revisions implemented for Police, Nurses and employees in the Trades and Service Groups for the two-year contract period 2000/02. Allowances were adjusted and rolled into salary in order to simplify pay administration in the public service and reduce the proliferation of allowances. The indicative wage bill for FY2001/02 will be approximately $44bn;

During FY2002/03 the Division will:

• Publish Civil Service Establishment Act (Principal);

• Publish Civil Service Establishment (Amendment) Act;

• Conduct Wage Bill Survey for FY2001/02;

• Maintain computerized database of Civil Service Establishment;

• Update database of established posts in Local Government and Statutory Bodies;

• Provide statistical data on the activities in The Public Service Establishment Unit when required;

• Establish database for all temporary positions in Central Government;

• Present medals and certificates to approximately 550 Civil Servants who have served for over 26 years;

• Finalize acquisition of the two (2) new buses during the first quarter of FY2002/03;

• Conclude settlements with remaining bargaining units for the two-year 2000/02-contract period. Propose to conclude 2002/04 negotiations as early as possible. Five (5) claims have so far been received for the 2002/04-contract period;

• Complete the revision of the Staff Orders and have it printed and distributed;

• Continue the process of staff development through training and continuous education;

• Improve cooperation and collaboration with trade unions and associations by means of a seminar, which will sensitize, educate and inform;

• Receive advice/recommendations from the PSRB on an estimated 30 wage claims for the two-year contract period 2002/04;

• Implement market pay adjustments for civil service groups;

• Redefine the classification standards for the health sector groups in light of technology changes, regionalisation and the need to introduce the more rational point factor job evaluation system;

• Reclassify jobs in the administration group.

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