The Suriname government is to provide a 15 per cent salary increase to public servants, even as negotiations with their trade unions are continuing.
According to a joint statement issued here, the salary increases go into effect from the end of September this year.
The statement was signed on behalf of the government by Minister of the Interior Marinus Bee, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Commission, the Director of Finance Vincent Fernandes, while representatives of Ravaksur PLUS, BVL/ALS, the joint education unions, and security unions signed on behalf of the trade unions.
The statement explicitly states that no agreement has been reached between the two parties with President Jennifer Simons telling a news conference that the discussions with the trade unions are continuing.
According to the statement, the two parties have agreed to establish a joint working group, consisting of eight representatives from the government and seven from the trade union movement.
The working group has been given three months to develop concrete proposals for the further elaboration of employment conditions and the financial framework.