The Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) will remain closed today as the entity goes into a morning meeting to resolve a dispute over the Government’s public sector compensation scheme.

The closure, which resulted from a strike by the staff on Tuesday, will continue to affect scores of licensed firearm holders across the island whose permits are scheduled for renewal.

There was no word from the police up to press time as to how firearm holders whose licences are up for renewal will be treated by the constabulary if they run into spot checks today.

On Tuesday, Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) President Techa Clarke-Griffiths said in statement that Government needs to address contract employment issues that have led to division among public sector workers.

According to Clarke-Griffiths, contract workers have been denied equal treatment from the same employer, even though they perform equal work of equal value.

The JCSA president said that time is of the essence and that the situation has now become critical.

Against that background the association issued an invitation to FLA staff to meet with the JCSA at its Jacisera Park headquarters on Molynes Road in St Andrew to discuss the current issues.

“Prior to the implementation of the compensation restructuring in the public sector, contract workers would have benefited from salary increases and all other benefits negotiated by the trade unions. However, since the implementation of Circular No 20, contract workers were left out, leading us to call for an end to the discrimination against contract workers in the public sector. The Jamaica Civil Service Association has long advocated that the fixed term contract policy of the Government is being misapplied and ought to be amended,” the JCSA president said.

“The passage of the Pensions (Public Service) Act 2017 allowed the Government to fix employment issues in Government and get all workers in jobs of indeterminate nature and scope to become full-time employees and contribute towards their pension. The recent issuance of Circular No 20, dated November 18, 2022, from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is delaying the participation of a person employed under contract in the compensation restructuring exercise by at least one year,” Clarke-Griffiths added.

She also said the workers have been receiving lower pay since April 1, 2022.

“While the Government has started placing some staff in certain entities, based on priorities, we urge them to expedite the process. This is critical as the current issue that has arisen at the Firearm Licensing Authority reflects the frustration of contract workers, not just at FLA, but islandwide. This is further complicated by the fact that the JCSA has not been able to meet with its members and potential members at the FLA even after numerous attempts to do so and this has left the staff without representation at a critical juncture,” Clarke-Griffiths said.

On Tuesday an FLA source said that one of the contentious issues is the discontinuation of gratuity payments.

“What they come with is a loan scheme instead. You have to borrow money to pay back money. In your contract it clearly states that you get gratuity in lieu of a pension scheme. FLA doesn’t have a pension scheme,” the source claimed.

The Jamaica Observer has learnt that there is great sympathy among the FLA management for the staff’s position. According to one source, the management recognises that the salaries are low and need to be increased; however, efforts to have the situation rectified have not met success in discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.