An approval by Cabinet of the proposal could see public servants receiving the timely increase on their wages and salaries for the festive season, Permanent Secretary within the Public Service Ministry, Dr Nanda Gopaul disclosed yesterday.

He told reporters at a news conference he called at his Waterloo Street office to update on the new developments regarding increase for public servants, that once the payout is approved it will be retroactive to January 1, 2002.

Dr Gopaul who however stopped short of disclosing a percentage that would be granted, said though, the payout will be based on the availability of funds.

He pointed out that the measure being taken will in no way prejudice further discussions with the Union.

According to Dr Gopaul, following the breakdown in talks between Government and the Guyana Public service Union (GPSU), both parties had agreed to the establishment of a Tribunal, headed by a chairman, to oversee talks that would have led to a possible break in the impasse between the two sides.

Dr Gopaul pointed out too that Father Malcom Rodrigues was appointed chairman of the Tribunal and was identified by the negotiators as best suited to chair the body.

But according to him, Father Rodrigues indicated his unavailability to the Chief Labour Officer.

The senior Public Service official contended that the present situation was frustrating to both the parties and also public servants, adding, “ PSM has to be mindful of its role and relationship with public servants. We have a primary relationship with them … they have been calling for a payout to be made.”

It is as a result of this call coupled with the inactivity between Government and the GPSU, that the Government has moved to obtain the approval of Cabinet of a payout, he said.

He reminded that “It is a payout without prejudice to further discussions with the Union.”

The Terms of Reference continues to be a sticking point in the negotiations between the two parties, as they made many futile attempts to work out arrangements for arbitration in the impasse over wages and salaries for public servants, a major sticking point being the issue of allowances.

PSU and PSM commenced negotiations for wages and salaries for public servants on April 4 last, and Dr Gopaul had previously said that the Government had done everything possible to have a satisfactory resolution to the wages dispute.

He said then, too, that Government had gone to the length of even committing itself to outside assessments of its financial capabilities but that unfortunately, the Union did not flex in its approach to the matter.

Yesterday, he expressed hope that early 2003, the parties will be able to commence discussions on the way forward, adding, it will also be better for the discussions on substantial issues of concern to be dealt with before next year's budget is crafted.

Gopaul emphasised that the impending payout will not be a unilateral one since there has been dialogue throughout the year, also it will not be in contravention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) laws governing wages and salaries.

The payout is to bring some amount of relief to the public servants though Government is finding it very difficult to take the money from the treasury, he stated, adding “We are doing this with absolute consideration for the workers and are hoping to ease their plight."