Ameen: All in my ministry will be paid

KHADIJAH AMEEN, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, said all her staff will be paid, following complaints of a delay in the payment of salaries for July.

“Rest assured, everyone will receive their salaries,” she said in a statement on July 30.

Ameen explained that the delay was the result of an administrative keep-back within the public service.

She said this matter was brought to the attention of the Minister of Finance and herself, and was promptly resolved through their direct intervention.

“While the payment of salaries is an administrative function, I understand the hardship and frustration caused by the delay,” Ameen said.

She confirmed her ministry and the finance ministry had worked closely to ensure all outstanding payments were processed and that systems were being monitored to prevent a recurrence.

Ameen reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that workers were treated with the respect and consistency they deserve. She thanked employees for their patience and dedication during this period.

Earlier a group calling its New Generations Leaders TT had issued a statement on Facebook complaining that a delay in payment was a breach of the rights of ministry staff .

"We've been informed that (staff of) the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government will not be paid their July 2025 salaries on time.

"Payments could be delayed until early August (1, 2 or 3), a blatant breach of the law and an utter betrayal of hard-working public officers, especially with the holidays looming."

The group quoted the Civil Service Act (section 39) which they said was quite clear.

This said, “Salary shall be paid on the day previous to the last full business day of the month.”

The group said that for July, that meant salaries must be paid by July 30, saying, "Anything later is illegal."

It accused the ministry of a "disgraceful failure to uphold the law and protect public servants’ dignity."

The group demanded immediate answers to its questions. It asked, "Why the delay? What corrective action will be taken? When will salaries be paid, without further excuses?"