CITING it as a front burner issue, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is once again calling on the government to regularise the emoluments of the public schools sweeper/cleaners.

At the GPSU headquarters on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in the capital city , GPSU head Patrick Yarde and other senior officials sat alongside the sweeper/cleaners, a number of women from several administrative regions, namely Regions Three,Four,Five, and 10.

The women told members of the media that they work beyond the four and six hours stipulated time, mainly as a result of the school hours, which sees them cleaning the public schools classrooms, toilets and corridors beyond the time of duty.

The women, most of whom are single mothers, noted that the matter was brought to the fore under the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government. They said that in December 2013, the Cabinet at the time recognised the need for them to be paid standard salaries.

Vanessa Simon of Region Five, has been on the job for some nine years to date and while she started off on her first salary being $15,000, her present salary is $37,000. She said that she works from 0800hrs daily and returns home as late as 16:00hrs on most days.

Maryan Fordyce, another sweeper /cleaner, has been on the job some 16 years to date and her salary has moved over the years from $15,000 initially to $24,000 to $37,000.

The woman was upset that several current government officials stood in solidarity with the women while in the Opposition.

“The present government went on the picket line with us for this same thing, “ she said of the matter. Fordyce said she is not entitled to any leave, noting that maternity leave is not an option for herself and colleagues.

Yarde said that the matter is one which sees him becoming emotional. “All we are asking is for it to be regularised”, he said of the various salary amounts the women receive.

He said that he has spoken directly with President David Granger on the matter and the Head of State has indicated that the Minister of Finance would address the issue.

Yarde said that within another two weeks, the union and the sweeper-cleaners would decide on the way forward. The GPSU said that a Cabinet decision was made on the issue in December 2013.

The union is calling for the mainly female employees to enjoy conditions of service as all other full-time workers of the public service, specifically to earn at least the minimum wage of the public service. In addition, annual vacations leave as well as vacation allowances were placed on the cards for the sweeper/cleaners.

In December 2013, the Cabinet of the previous government had supported the itemised matters as highlighted by the Minister of Education at the time.

The government at the time supported the proposal that the wages of the sweeper/cleaners be set in accordance with the Minimum Wages Order and be made timely, and also that the women employed in all regions as well as supplementary provisions sought , be paid retroactively.

Last year at the GPSU Labour Day rally, the union called for the sweeper /cleaners to be recognised, noting that they work extremely hard to ensure proper sanitary conditions within schools across the country.