7 News Belize

As we've reported, public officers and teachers received an eight percent salary increase this month - and that follows up on 6% they got last year. It has increased government's wage bill by over 70 million dollars - but GOB may have to dig a little deeper. That's because nobody remembered the folks at the KHMH. Now, they aren't public officers; they work for the KHMH Authority which is an autonomous statutory body. But, it's not fully independent, because in reality, the KHMH's operations are funded substantially by government - to the tune of more than ten million dollars annually. So, the almost 579 KHMH workers say they want a slice of the pie too. Of course, coming up with that kind of money for 600 hospital workers would another at least another two million annually to the wage bill - which is no small feat for government. Today, our reports say senior representatives of KHMH Management appeared before Cabinet to make their case directly. Still, no definitive answer is forthcoming - and Cabinet is now deliberating on the costly request. But, while they deliberate we have heard that the staff is reserving its options and has met with the Public Service union to discuss possibilities.