(CMR) The Health Services Authority increased the minimum wage scale for its lowest-paid employees after a recent review exercise. The increase will positively impact 78 employees, including those in housekeeping, porters and non-emergency transport drivers.
Prior to this increase which was implemented on Wednesday, some workers were taking home less than $1,900 per month. Now, the minimum scale has been increased to $2,231 per month for full-time HSA employees. The payroll change will go into effect on September 1.
The increase commenced after the HSA implemented Section 47 of the Public Authority Law (PAA) by moving to the Public Service salary scale. This sort of review has been happening across various authorities to bring pay scales in line with the central government.
This process required an evaluation of all positions within the HSA to determine their placement on the new scale.
The lowest paid jobs were placed on Grade R, which began at $1,700 per month with a maximum of $2,286 per month. Grade R is the lowest grade and is used for trainees in the civil service. In the HSA the housekeepers, porters and non-emergency transport drivers all fell on this scale.
The HSA board considered the financial plight of its workers – one who had gone to local media to share that she was unable to pay her basic bills on her salary, which amounted to a take-home amount of less than $1,900.
They resolved that as an institution that cares about its workers, they were committed to ensuring that workers are able to receive a liveable wage. This will now positively impact 63 housekeepers, 10 porters, and 5 non-emergency transport drivers. The average monthly increase would be around $246.64.
The increase would cost the HSA $230,856 per annum with a further cost of $27.703 for pensions and $5,171 once the CoLA adjustment is added in September.
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