CBC Staff Salaries Regularised

According to a message on their Facebook page the Customs & Border Control Service (CBC) recently received approval to regularise staff salaries, completing a commitment management made to resolve pre-merger salary inequities within CBC.

During the transition from the former Customs and Immigration Departments to the current Customs & Border Control Service, pay discrepancies existed within particular job categories. CBC management sought to enact the Salary Regularization Initiative, allowing adjustments. Approved by the Ministry of Border Control, the Portfolio of the Civil Service and the Deputy Governor’s Office, this initiative requires affected staff members to sign new employment agreements.

The Minister for Border Control & Labour stated, “The officers of CBC are dedicated and hard-working civil servants who serve in critical roles which allow our economy to continue to thrive and flourish. Without these officers, the public could not buy groceries, import vehicles or household goods or travel. From 2019 – 2022, CBC collected CI $ 835,174,975.83 in entity revenue, processed 1,349,982 persons arriving via air transport on our shores and made 115 arrests for prohibited and restricted items. These large numbers speak to the depth and breadth of the work, the pressures CBC officers are under, and their dedication to their job. This salary grade increase is a small way to show that they are valued, we recognise them for what they do, and they should be properly compensated for it."

The Deputy Premier continues, "the officers work tirelessly enduring long hours to protect our border while we are home with our families or asleep in our beds. As a member of the previous opposition, I was public with my support for CBC salary adjustments, and now as the Minister with responsibility for CBC, it is my pleasure to have these funds secured in the first full budget under my term. I thank the Deputy Governor for approving the adjustments."

Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said, "CBC officers were on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic and stood tall and showed up, which meant the country could continue to receive imports even though travel was restricted. Officers were also deployed to serve in other areas during the height of the pandemic, and they stepped up when their country needed them to. As we transitioned out of the pandemic and normalcy returned, the officers shifted their approach and again assumed responsibility for securing our borders as we welcomed travelers to our shores. Additionally, with the recent crisis of managing the mass migration of irregular migrants the country has been facing, officers continue to play an integral role in strengthening our national security strategy. I therefore endorse the Salary Regularization Initiative and am happy to know the budget was supported by my Cabinet and Parliamentary colleagues as well."

The Salary Regularization Initiative was within the scope of the Merger project when CBC was initially formed, is fully budgeted for in the 2022-2023 budget and is consistent with the internal Job Evaluation results and internal equity formulas within the CBC ranks.

Staff were informed of the salary adjustments via an internal memo from the Director of CBC, and that the adjustments are retroactive to 1 January 2022.