The Prison Officers’ Association has met with the Chief Personnel Officer in what both sides described as a cordial and constructive engagement, addressing several outstanding matters affecting prison officers.
Among the key issues discussed was the long-awaited job evaluation exercise. The CPO indicated that the exercise is expected to begin before the end of the fiscal year 2026, and the Association said it will continue to monitor the process to ensure fairness and transparency.
On salary negotiations, the existing 5% offer remains under consideration, and the Association confirmed it will submit a counter-proposal as discussions continue.
Progress was also reported on the issue of officers acting for one year prior to retirement to qualify for higher retirement benefits.
Additional topics included a proposal for ten days of annual stress leave, separate from other forms of leave, and the inclusion of public holidays in vacation leave calculations for main shift officers.
Several of these matters will require further consultation with the Commissioner of Prisons, the Board of Inland Revenue, and the Ministry of Finance.
The Association says it remains committed to ongoing dialogue as discussions continue.