PM Harris announces 10% hike in wages or pensions of Civil Servants, Pensioners and STEP workers

St Kitts and Nevis: The Government of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis announced a ten percent hike in the salaries, wages and pensions of the Civil Servants, Pensioners and employees of the Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP). 

Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris, through his address to the nation on the occasion of Labour Day, declared the decision and appreciated them for the incredible work in their respective field.  

“Today, I am pleased to announce that my government has determined that our Civil Servants, Pensioners and STEP workers will benefit from an increase in wages, salaries and pensions at a rate of 10% retroactive to January 2022,” Prime Minister Harris said in his 2022 Labour Day address to the nation.​

Prime Minister Harris stated that this increase is another clear example of the investment of the Government of St Kitts and Nevis in the people as the Government put more money in the pockets of a large number of our citizens and residents.

Prime Minister further added that these resources would translate to increased purchasing power for approximately 4,000 salaried Civil Servants, 1,064 Government Auxiliary Employees, 1,365 Pensioners and 2,800 STEP workers. 

“This also has the great potential to propel increased economic activities, which will, in turn, contribute to the economic recovery and stimulate job creation across the Federation, “underlined PM Harris. 

The 10 percent increase for all beneficiaries will be paid during the Government’s next pay cycle in May 2022.

The Government of St Kitts and Nevis decided to extend the Income and Disability Support Programmes for an additional three months to assist workers who are unemployed and working on low wages. The programme will be extended up to June 2022. 

He noted, “The Select Committee and the Human Resource Management Department have successfully completed the work necessary to facilitate the integration of the first group of STEP workers into the Public Service as Government Auxiliary Employees.”