PHILIPSBURG--The 2011 salary scales for civil servants were recently approved by the Executive Council and this includes "a number of corrections" that will bring the cost of living adjustment up-to-date, Personnel Commissioner Xavier Blackman told the press on Thursday.
Government had introduced a new remuneration policy as of 2008 and the salary scales were indexed as of 2010. Based on this, it was agreed with the unions that civil servants who had been employed before 2006 would receive their compensation for the price index as per the policy.
Civil servants employed in 2006/2007 but left service in the course of 2010, maybe entitled to a subsequent payment based on the increase and will receive this in a lump sum.
From 2008, compensation for the increase in the price index will be carried out through the indexations of the salary scales and the system of post-paid lump sum will not applied, Blackman said.
"These are the last pieces needed to be cleared up and from that point on we will be up to date. I am very pleased we have been able to finalise that and pay out those who are employed and were employed [with government]," Blackman said.
Information on how those who have left government service and what documentation is needed to get payments will be made available soon.
The placement of civil servants in the new government organisation for Country St. Maarten is "in full gear" with department heads and other receiving their offer letters.
Blackman said this is a "very important and delicate process because you are not just dealing with numbers, you are dealing with people."
He hopes the process will be completed soon. The approval of the Social Charter – the contract between the unions and government – by the Island Council in August paved the way for the process.
Several civil servants who have attained retirement age, have served more than 10 years and will not be serving in Country St. Maarten will be given a special send off by government on Saturday.
Blackman said this is the revival of a ceremony that had been done several years ago and he thought it was important to again honour those who have served. To that end, he made the proposal to the Executive Council and it was approved.
Similar civil servants send off ceremonies will be carried out periodically.
Blackman congratulated the island's delegation in The Hague on the ratification of 10-10-10 as the date on which St. Maarten will attain country status with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
