Trade Union calls on government to review schemes of service for frontline public officers
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) has called on the national government for an immediate review of the schemes of service for frontline public officers.
SICTU, the representative of the collective voice of workers across the nation, demanded that Government, through responsible ministries and the Public Service Commission, immediately establish and execute a comprehensive review of the schemes of service.
This includes the scheme of service for medical doctors, nurses, allied health workers, police officers and correctional services officers, according to a SICTU statement on Monday this week.
SICTU recognised these dedicated professionals as the backbone of the nation’s security, health, and social stability; yet their terms of employment, career progression, and remuneration have been neglected for far too long.
The current schemes of service are outdated, not reflecting the current demands, complexities, and cost-of-living realities faced by these officers, and this prolonged governmental inaction has resulted in the systematic under-compensation of labour across these sectors, SICTU added.
SICTU said while peripheral discussions may have begun for some groups, the Scheme of Service for Nurses, police and correctional officers been left untouched for an unacceptably long period is a clear case of negligence that must be improved without further delay.
The SICTU said frontline workers continue to serve the country with dedication, often under challenging conditions, however burdened by inadequate payment that does not match the value of their labour.
SICTU said this is detrimental to national morale, service delivery, and the retention of vital skilled professionals and calls for-
- The immediate establishment of a dedicated and inclusive Review Board/Taskforce for each relevant sector, which must include official representatives from SICTU and its affiliated unions to directly represent the interests of Medical Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Workers, Police, and Correctional Officers.
- The relevant Ministries, led by the Ministry of Public Service in collaboration with the Public Service Commission, are to prioritise and expedite the preparation and submission of necessary Cabinet Papers to authorise these urgent reviews and secure the required resources.
- The Coalition for National Transformation and Unity (CNUT) Cabinet and Caucus to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness it deserves.
SICTU urge government to act swiftly and decisively on behalf of the thousands of public officers who have waited long enough for justice and fair compensation and demonstrate that it values their service by moving beyond words to concrete, accelerated action.
SICTU expect a formal response and a clear timeline for this critical process within the shortest period possible, claiming that their members and all frontline officers are watching.
SICTU stands ready to engage constructively but firmly to ensure this long-overdue correction is achieved.
