Benefits for nurses – more vacation, training, uniform allowance

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has outlined several incentives for the nursing profession, including a uniform allowance and additional vacation for those with over 15 years of continuous service.

Meanwhile, in the teaching profession, centres for special needs and gifted children centres are slated to benefit from hefty tax credits. 

In her Budget statement, the prime minister announced that the government had agreed to a National Compact with the Barbados Nurses’ Association to recruit and retain nurses. It will be a formal agreement outlining the roles, responsibilities, and commitments of both parties in addressing the issues and needs of the nursing profession.

“We anticipate that this compact through various incentives – financial, non-financial, professional, educational or personal development – will result in more nurses opting to remain in the health sector at home and to continue providing quality care for their families and our people.

“Like those in the teaching profession, as an act of good faith before the compact, we agree now today that members of the nursing profession will also benefit from an additional six weeks’ vacation after 15 years of continuous service in the year that they reach that or any other year that they choose. So instead of that one year getting six weeks, they will get 12 for that year,” she said.

Describing the situation where nurses have to wait “unreasonable times” to receive uniforms, the PM also pledged that her administration would be providing them with a uniform allowance

Meanwhile, she indicated that from September 1, 2024, 22 master teachers will be assigned across secondary schools to support teacher effectiveness and improve instructional quality.

The finance minister said that a Teaching Service Commission supported by a Secretariat and established by the Ministry of the Public Service will also be established in this fiscal year. It will, among other things, look to improve efficiency and effectiveness in recruitment and appointment;  disciplinary matters; and training and professional development.

As far as special needs education is concerned, Mottley said increased financial resources have been allocated to ramp up diagnostic testing and screening of 1 000 children per year, expert intervention, capacity building through teacher training, assistive technologies, individual education plans and increased bursaries for special needs learners who cannot be accommodated within the mainstream school system.

“To further aid in the provision for special needs education, with effect from April 1, 2024, I propose to introduce a 75 per cent tax credit for the provision of educational and life skills facilities for persons with special needs to encourage private sector investment,” she said. “In addition, at the other end of the spectrum, we recognise there are gifted children amongst us that also need to be catered for. Therefore, with effect from April 1, 2024, I propose to introduce a 50 per cent tax credit for the provision of educational centres for gifted persons.” (JB)