Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The government is now awaiting wage claims for the 2012 to 2014 contract period from trade unions representing public sector ahead of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The government wants the matter addressed urgently as part of its effort to secure a deal with the Fund.

The position was indicated to the trade unions at last week’s meeting of the Public Sector Monitoring Committee.

Bringing down public sector wages; tax and pension reforms are critical pillars for the government to ink a deal with the IMF.

President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association, O’Neil Grant, says during Thursday’s meeting, the unions were urged to submit claims for the new wage period so that negotiations can begin as soon as possible.

Public sector workers last received an adjustment in their wages and salaries at the end of the 2008 to 2010 contract period.

Grant says since then many civil servants have been hit hard by the economic conditions and are looking forward to improvements in their compensation packages.

A team from the IMF is slated to visit Jamaica this month to continue talks with the government.

The government is hoping to get a deal with the IMF before the end of the year.