Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

Government officials and unions representing public sector workers are to continue talks next week on plans to transform the civil service.

President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association O’Neil Grant says at that meeting matters surrounding wages and talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are expected to be discussed.

The parties met today to hold discussions at the Public Sector Monitoring Committee.

The government is hoping to secure a deal with the IMF before the end of the year.

Containing public sector wages is one of the critical components for inking the deal.

Grant says today, unions were updated by way of a presentation from the Public Sector Transformation Unit on strategies being pursued by the government to transform the public service.

The unit, which was set up by the previous administration, had recommended a series of rationalization, privatisation and waste-cutting initiatives in the public service.

Grant says the government indicated that it has reviewed programmes which have been implemented so far and will be urgently moving ahead with plans which are in keeping with its direction for the country.

He says the unions are in support of changes in the public sector but notes that this process should be carefully managed.

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