Hundreds of short-term workers employed by the Ministry of Education are now facing uncertain futures after their contracts were not renewed due to a lack of funds to pay them for the next contract cycle.
Senior ministry officials, who did not want to be named, confirmed the situation yesterday, saying they were experiencing “challenges with respect to payments” as a “result of the economy being where it is at the moment.”
The news, which up to late yesterday had not been widely communicated to the affected employees, was publicised via social media by aggrieved workers who complained of not being able to secure contracts, even after they followed procedure and submitted justifications for why they should be kept on. Among those affected are technical workers, school social workers and personnel from the Student Support Services Division.
One officer said, “As usual we did our justifications, but strangely though we have not been told anything. When a couple of us inquired from HR what was the matter and when we would receive notice of our approval, we were told that the ministry had no monies to pay us and as such we would not be returning to work.”
Another officer added, “I was told there is no money to pay us and they are not getting any releases from the Ministry of Finance and would have to wait until October.”
A third officer, employed on a short term contract spanning a period of 14 months, estimated that close to 250 people were affected. Ministry officials did not offer a figure but admitted the number was “quite a lot.” But affected employees said while initial estimates would run into hundreds, it could possibly cross 1,000.
Ministry officials said the matter was discussed yesterday and that “efforts were being made to source funds from other areas which could be used to pay the workers.” Adding that many of the three and six-month contract workers had been affected, officials said one suggestion to improve the situation was the extension of the break between contracts expiring and people being re-hired. The official explained that usually, a contract employee would remain at home for a maximum of three days before their contract was renewed, but suggested this period be extended to one week to make things easier for the ministry.
Reminding that the Education Ministry was an amalgamation of three ministries now forced to operate on a singular reduced budget, the official added that sacrifices had to be made in certain areas.
Just last week, Public Administration and Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie had reassured people who had expressed alarm that job-cuts were on the horizon for the public service that although things were difficult, Government had no intention of sending home workers.
But yesterday, Education Ministry workers said although they were willing to work, “the ministry and the executive are just doing nothing. We are not even sure that once October is here, if the ministry would take us back in or if they would pick and choose who they want. Short term officers are now fed-up with what is going on in the ministry and would like to get some answers.”