Gov’t reviewing recommended increase in stipend paid to senators
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government is currently reviewing a recommendation made in a circular sent to Gordon House that a major increase be applied to the stipend paid to senators who are not Cabinet ministers.
Senators who are not Cabinet ministers are paid a stipend for each sitting of the Upper House of Parliament which they attend.
The circular, which was prepared by technocrats at the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, indicates that the stipend paid to senators should be increased from $53,000 to $148,000 per senate sitting.
The circular is dated September 14, 2023, and is reportedly based on an approximately 15-year-old policy which says the stipend paid to senators per sitting of the Upper House should be two times that of the highest-paid member of a public sector board of directors.
The fees paid to several public sector board members were increased earlier this year.
READ: Clarke announces massive salary increases for politicians; PM to take home nearly $30m next year
However, sources told OBSERVER ONLINE that no final decision has been made on whether recommended increases will be applied.
The recommendation is reportedly under review by the Government.
The stipend paid to senators was not increased during the public sector reclassification exercise, which was implemented recently.