BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 7, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Government Auxiliary Employees (GAEs), formerly known as non-establishment workers, have much more to be thankful for this festive season, as the Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris-led Team Unity administration has reinstated their annual December holiday pay.
“The annual holiday pay, paid during the month of December, had been stopped abruptly some years ago by the previous Administration on the pretext that the workers would become a part of the pensionable establishment. Unfortunately, this was never done for our non-establishment workers,” Prime Minister Harris said in a well-received national address on ZIZ Radio and Television on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
The Prime Minister indicated that around 1,250 Government Auxiliary Employees will receive their holiday pay on December 14.
Prime Minister Harris said that the Government has engaged the services of an actuary to assist in resolving all outstanding issues relating to the incorporation of the Government Auxiliary Employees into the pensionable establishment.
Dr. Harris added, “We have formed a diverse Committee, chaired by the Government’s Chief Personnel Officer and including GAE representation, to consult and work to…ensure non-establishment workers attain the elevated status of pensionable employees of the Government.”
While this process continues, Prime Minister Harris has said his Government is fulfilling a promise made that if the necessary work to reinstate the payments owed to the GAE workers was not completed by September 2018, his administration would restore the holiday pay to these workers.
“This is a promise made and a promise we have kept,” the Prime Minister said.
