All public officers have officially transitioned to the new salary structure, marking a pivotal moment in the territory’s commitment to equitable compensation and professional development.
The Department of Human Resources confirmed this achievement on Friday, announcing that 2499 public officers had been successfully converted ahead of the March 31 deadline.
This conversion process follows the comprehensive Compensation Review and Job Classification report conducted by consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in October 2023, which was subsequently submitted to Cabinet on November 8, 2023.
Deputy Governor David Archer Jr. hailed the completion of the conversion as a testament to the BVI’s dedication to its public servants. He emphasized that the new salary structure ensures that all public officers now earn a wage above the living wage in the territory, underscoring the government’s commitment to fair and competitive compensation.
“Public officers are the driving force of our territory,” Deputy Governor Archer affirmed.
“Therefore, we have a responsibility to ensure that they are equitably compensated according to industry and international standards. The success of this exercise speaks to our continued commitment to building a world-class Public Service that is filled with individuals that are truly proud to be public officers,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Office of the Deputy Governor unveiled plans to implement a new allowances and benefits schedule for the public service starting April 15. This initiative according to the department, aims to streamline the allocation of additional compensation for eligible public officers, further enhancing their overall remuneration package.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, commended the concerted efforts of the Department of Human Resources and HR teams across the public service in achieving this milestone on schedule.
She highlighted the collaborative endeavour between government stakeholders and PricewaterhouseCoopers, emphasizing the collective commitment to modernizing the public service.
“The completion of this step is the result of a major team effort, both within the government and externally with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and marks the beginning of a new age in the public service,” Mrs. DaBreo-Lettsome remarked.
Approximately $10 million was allocated by the government within the 2024 budget to facilitate the implementation of the new public service salary structure. PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited (PwC) was awarded the contract valued at $302,103 in October 2022 to conduct the Compensation Review and Job Classification for the public service.