In recognition of the sacrifice, resilience, and immense contribution of our workers to the growth and stability of our economy, I am pleased to announce a 12 per cent increase in general wages and a 15 per cent increase in agricultural wages.
Further, we have reduced the deposit required to acquire affordable housing units from 10 per cent to 5 per cent for all salaried workers.
Additionally, we are reforming the Social Health Authority (SHA) to make it more responsive to the needs of our workforce.
Accordingly, we have withdrawn restrictive tariff mechanisms that have caused unintended challenges, including the temporary outpatient caps initially introduced to safeguard the fund’s financial sustainability.
Moreover, following productive engagements between teacher unions and the government, teachers will now have access to over 9,000 hospital facilities across the country, up from 900, and will benefit from access to all Level 6 hospitals rather than just one as before.
These are some of the reforms and commitments we are undertaking as a government to promote the wellbeing of our workers.
