Police officers in Saint Lucia will now receive the same 13 per cent salary increase as other public sector unions, following a collective agreement signed between the government and the Police Welfare Association on September 15.
Minister for Labour, Hon. Dr Virginia Albert-Poyotte, described the development as a major shift in how salary adjustments are handled. She explained that, “This is the first time in a very long time that public officers are actually getting the increase within the Triennium when it’s due. Usually is after the Triennium is over and government has to get some serious funds to pay back pay,” she said.
“We paid the back pay for the first Triennium…now we are in the Triennium 2025 to 2028… as soon as it’s due, which is March 31 the public officers will receive their increase.”
Beyond salary adjustments, the agreement also addresses improvements to working conditions, including upgraded protective gear such as bulletproof vests. Albert-Poyotte emphasised that these measures strengthen officers’ ability to perform their duties safely while reinforcing the government’s commitment to long-term workforce stability.
The minister further highlighted that job security is a central part of this agenda. She noted that “We have 1 288 employees at this point who would have qualified to become permanent on government establishment, and once they had given two consecutive years of continuous service, they would be entitled to be permanent.”
She added that securing permanent status is vital, especially for workers seeking financial stability. “Job security is something that’s very critical for workers, because sometimes they want to take a small loan, they want to go to the bank or to the credit union or sometimes even to the higher purchase agent businesses like courts and other places that if you do not have a secure job, they will not lend you any money.”
The adjustment is retroactive from June, with a 6 percent increase under the 2022–2025 Triennium and a further 7 per cent under the 2025–2028 Triennium.
