After more than a decade of lobbying by sweeper cleaners in public schools about their paltry salaries and non-permanent status, government yesterday announced that with immediate effect changes would give them minimum wage but with full-time contracts and gratuity.
The payment and conditions of service of sweepers and cleaners in public schools have been longstanding issues dating back to 2011 when Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was then president and had promised to raise their salaries to at least minimum wage.
“The Cabinet, under the chairmanship of His Excellency President Irfaan Ali, has recently instructed that sweeper-cleaners at all public schools be immediately offered employment on a full-time contract gratuity basis at the public service minimum wage level,” a statement from government yesterday announced.