Mega-savings for pensioners, public servants - MegaMart says thanks for sacrifices made in nation's interest
Published:Thursday | July 4, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Sacha Walters-Gregory, Staff Reporter
The MegaMart Wholesale Club is saying a big thank you to public-sector workers and pensioners, with more than $1.5 billion in savings and rewards in its Billion Dollar Thank You to Public Servants programme.
Public-sector workers and pensioners will receive an upfront gift valued at $6,600 each, in the form of a free three-year membership and $3,000 worth of vouchers redeemable once they make a purchase of $5,000 before GCT at MegaMart .
"The MegaMart family welcomes this opportunity to share our success with a most-deserving group of Jamaicans - public-sector workers, who collectively provide critical services, … and who recently demonstrated the kind of patriotic commitment that will be required if Jamaica is to [ improve its economic standing]," said Gassan Azan Jr, chairman and CEO of the wholesale club, during the programme's launch at the Waterloo Road branch yesterday.
Azan noted that the public-sector workers' acceptance of a voluntary wage freeze shows their commitment to the nation. He added, however, that their real sacrifice is being felt in their pockets and thus affects their families.
"The slide of the Jamaican dollar makes life that much more difficult for fixed-income earners, whose purchasing power becomes less and less with each devaluation. Jamaica's public-sector workers are a major part of this and feel the full impact of this crisis; yet, it was they who stepped up to the plate and voluntarily signed a wage freeze, which allowed the Government to achieve two critical objectives," said Azan.
These were the raising of the primary surplus to start paying off the country's debt, and satisfying a critical precondition for the signing of a four-year extended fund facility with the International Monetary Fund.
"In a very real sense, the extended fund facility was the launching pad for Jamaica's economic recovery programme. All of us should acknowledge that the sacrifices made by the Jamaican public-sector workers in the national interest were critical to the outcome of these negotiations," said Azan.
He hopes their model will act as an example for public- and private- sector partnerships in the future.
RANGE OF BENEFITS
Public-sector workers can receive benefits by signing up for three years' free membership to the MegaMart Wholesale Club.
"Once your membership form is complete, you'll be handed three $1,000 MegaMart vouchers. Each voucher can be redeemed for goods when the public-sector worker spends $5,000 or more before GCT," said Azan.
Other benefits include special discounts during the three-year period - $50,000, $30,000 and $15,000 in a MegaMart public-sector workers summer bonus; as well as an opportunity to earn up to three per cent Mega Cash on purchases, which can be saved towards future purchases. The club already offers other benefits to public-sector workers.
"All public servants and MegaMart Wholesale Club members already receive up to five per cent discount on their purchases when they shop Fridays to Mondays. All members will also receive $1,000 MegaMart vouchers toward their next purchase when they swipe their membership card between Mondays and Thursdays, after spending $10,000 or more. From time to time, products valued at $1,000 will be offered in lieu of the voucher," said Azan.
Representatives of various public-sector groups yesterday expressed their appreciation for MegaMart's initiative.
"In negotiations, I've always said if you can save us from spending $10, it's like giving us $10," said Sergeant Raymond Wilson, president of the Jamaica Police Federation, who equated this concept to the shopping club's approach.
Leabert Grant, first vice-president of the Jamaica Government Pensioners Association, expressed gratitude that pensioners were considered.
"This morning, you have given a sense of vision to all private-sector people. This morning, you have demonstrated a quality of thoughtfulness … . You have considered those of us who fall outside of the active labour force, you have thought of us that there is life after retirement."
- In an effort to make the offer more accessible to public-sector workers, MegaMart's mobile units will be visiting government ministries to facilitate registration. Persons can also register at any of the four MegaMart locations.
- Public-sector workers have to sign up for the free membership before December 31.
Full Caption: Public-servant representatives were the first to benefit from MegaMart's new Billion Dollar Thank You To Public Servants, which gives public-sector workers three years' free membership to the wholesale club, among other benefits. From left are Leabert Grant, first vice-president of Jamaica Government Pensioners Association; Senator Lambert Brown, president of the University and Allied Workers Union; Sergeant Raymond Wilson, president of the Jamaica Police Federation; Antoinette Patterson, president of the Nurses' Association of Jamaica; Horace Dalley, minister with responsibility for the public service; Gassan Azan Jr, chairman and CEO of MegaMart Wholesale Club; Helene Davis-Whyte, general secretary of the Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers; Clayton Hall, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association; and O'Neil Grant, president of the Jamaica Civil Service Association. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer