THIRTY-SIX per cent of public sector workers surveyed recently believe that they will not be granted a wage increase this year because of the economic strain and reduced financial resources brought on by the COVID-19 crisis.

At the same time, seven per cent expect a minimal percentage increase, seven per cent do not believe the pandemic will affect public sector wage negotiations, while another six per cent said Government will use the pandemic as an excuse not to increase the wages of public sector workers.

“As the world continues to reel from the effects of the pandemic, respondents fear that the global economic decline and fallout will negatively affect negotiations and cause the Government to borrow from the International Monetary Fund once again, leaving their focus of debt reduction rather than wage increase,” authors of the survey findings wrote.

Respondents, when asked about health and safety claims they want included in the next round of negotiations between Government and public sector workers, 136 said there should a 100 per cent increase in health insurance coverage, inclusive of all dependents.

The public sector workers, however, had high praises for Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.