Public servants in Antigua and Barbuda will receive a new round of salary increases by July 2026. Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced the plan during the presentation of the 2026 national budget.

The increases come as the government completes a nationwide reclassification exercise. This effort aims to modernize pay across the public service. Additionally, it will ensure that salaries reflect current roles and responsibilities.

Browne told Parliament that the upgrade is part of a broader overhaul of the wage negotiation system. Consequently, salary adjustments will be delivered in a timely and predictable manner. He added that unions have already been invited to submit proposals under a new framework. This framework seeks to eliminate years-long delays in pay adjustments.

“Civil servants will also benefit from a further upgrade in pay as a result of the reclassification to be completed by July 2026,” Browne said. He emphasized that the government is restructuring the collective bargaining process so increases take effect no later than July 2026.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister positioned the pay upgrade as part of a broader commitment to fairness, stability, and improved working conditions. He stressed that the government honors its obligations and treats employees with respect.

Since 2022, the administration has cleared over $60 million in retroactive wages owed to public servants. Another payment is scheduled this month. Browne noted that this includes former employees who left before December 2022. “Every eligible worker will receive what is owed,” he said.

The upcoming salary increase, combined with ongoing reforms, will help establish a more modern and efficient public service. Browne added, “A government’s character is revealed not in slogans, but in how it treats its workers.”

Budget debate continues next week. Ministers are expected to outline sector-specific details of the reclassification and the new wage negotiation system. This process aims to ensure both fairness and predictability for public servants in the years ahead.

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