The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is in the final phase of disbursing outstanding back pay to public servants, with all remaining payments — including those tied to teacher upgrades — set to be completed by the end of April.
The Treasury Department confirms that payments are already underway and progressing steadily. Several ministries and departments received their final disbursements as early as April 2, with another round scheduled for release by April 10.
The retroactive payments stem from negotiated agreements between the Government and trade unions, which resulted in salary increases and improved benefits for public officers. Because those increases were implemented after the agreed periods, affected workers are now being compensated for the delay. The payments cover multiple periods, primarily spanning 2019 through 2023, following the implementation of new salary adjustments in January 2024.
Eligibility extends to most public sector employees who were in service up to December 31, 2023. Former workers who resigned or retired by the end of 2025 may also qualify, provided they meet the necessary requirements. Excluded from the payments are parliamentarians, ministers, judges, participants in the Work Experience Programme, and certain contract officers.
All payments are being made via direct bank transfer. No cheques will be issued, and no taxes will be deducted from the amounts paid. Workers who received partial payments in previous years may still be owed a final balance, which will be included in this current phase.
To ensure transparency, the Treasury will distribute detailed payment statements through Permanent Secretaries once the process is complete.
The Treasury is urging patience as final checks are carried out to ensure accuracy. Former employees — particularly those who left before December 2022 and have not yet received any payment — are being encouraged to submit their information to the Treasury Help Desk at [email protected].
The update comes amid sustained public interest in the long-delayed payments, with many workers closely monitoring timelines as the Government moves to settle its outstanding obligations.
