Gov’t, public sector meeting underway

The meeting between union leaders and the Finance minister, Dr. Peter Phillips and the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Horace Dalley is currently underway.

President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), Oneil Grant, said so far the discussions have been frank and open.

He said the ministers have briefed them on the broad direction the government is planning to take the country.

Today’s meeting is expected to be the last before the government begins talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team on Monday.

The IMF team will be presented with the government’s economic plan as Jamaica seeks to ink a new deal with the multilateral agency.

Grant said this afternoon he expects that the meeting will explore in greater detail the government’s plans for the public sector.

He said this is not intended to hammer out or negotiate a deal, he hopes to get a better understanding of how the workers interest will be presented.

He hopes it will set the tone for the collective labour agreement.

radio@gleanerjm.com