The Antigua and Barbuda government says a previously announced salary increase for public sector workers remains on track and is expected to take effect later this year.

The update was provided during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, where Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, confirmed that the planned pay adjustment has not been delayed.

“Still on the cards,” Merchant said when asked whether the public sector wage increase was moving forward.

He said the increase is expected to take effect in the middle of the year.

“I think it was late June,” Merchant said.

Officials noted that the pay adjustment is separate from the government’s recently accepted recommendation to increase the national minimum wage to $13 per hour over a three-year period.

Merchant said the administration intends to honor its commitments regarding public sector compensation.

“As you know, the Gaston Browne administration, when it makes promises, those promises are always kept,” he said.