A worker at the Mount St. John's Medical Centre (MSJMC) has raised serious concerns about the hospital's distribution of government-issued back pay, alleging that management has been excluding eligible employees from receiving funds they are rightfully owed. According to Antigua News Room, the complaint was submitted by a hospital employee who claims the issue will only be addressed once it receives media attention.
The worker states that when the government issues back pay to public sector employees, the hospital applies its own internal criteria to determine who qualifies — criteria that differ from the government's stated guidelines. Specifically, employees who began working after 2021 have reportedly been excluded from two rounds of back pay distribution, despite falling within the eligible timeframe.
The concern has taken on added urgency following Prime Minister Gaston Browne's announcement of another back pay disbursement covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The worker, who says they and several colleagues meet the eligibility requirements, fears the hospital will once again overlook their claims.
"I think it's unfair for them to withhold money which is rightfully ours," the employee wrote, adding that the hospital has engaged in what they describe as ongoing illegal management practices that have yet to be adequately addressed.
The worker also questioned whether the relevant trade unions are fully aware of the conditions facing staff at the facility. They called on hospital administration to honour the timeline and criteria set by the Prime Minister rather than implement its own, and expressed hope that this round of back pay would be distributed fairly and transparently to all qualifying employees.
