Dr. Campbell Demands 50% Public Service Pay Hike as Oil Wealth Surges

Standing outside the Ministry of Finance, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) lead parliamentarian Dr. Terrence Campbell has called for a 50 percent increase in public-service salaries, arguing that Guyana’s expanding oil revenues and economic growth have created the financial capacity to significantly improve workers’ wages.

Campbell made the call in a recorded statement, using the location of the Finance Ministry to frame his argument around Government’s management of the country’s rapidly expanding revenues and its allocation of national resources.

“Today there is much more money available to pay public servants and that means this PPP government wants scream: 50 percent increase for public servants.”

Campbell is proposing a minimum public-service salary of G$200,000 per month, while calling for tax exemption to extend to G$400,000 monthly.

“This economy can afford to pay public servants better.”

The demand comes against the backdrop of substantial growth in Government revenues and the economy since the start of commercial oil production. Since commercial oil production began in December 2019, Guyana has earned more than US$6.2 billion in petroleum revenues and royalties through 2024, with petroleum revenues rising sharply as production expanded. The State received about US$2.46 billion in petroleum revenues in 2025, underscoring the scale of resources now available to Guyana.
Campbell argues that public servants—including teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers, soldiers and other State employees—should participate more meaningfully in the country’s expanding economic resources.

Constitutional right to collective bargaining

The majority of Guyana’s public servants are unionised and, through their trade unions, participate in negotiations over wages and conditions of employment. Article 147(3) of the Constitution of Guyana protects the right of employers and trade unions to enter into collective bargaining agreements.

Collective bargaining is the process through which workers, usually represented by a recognised trade union, negotiate collectively with an employer over wages, salaries, allowances, working hours, benefits, leave and other conditions of employment. It provides a structured mechanism through which workers can negotiate rather than having employment terms determined solely by the employer.

The constitutional protection is particularly relevant to the public service, where unions including the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) represent workers in negotiations with Government.

Government cites 46% increase vs APNU+AFC 77 % increases

Government figures show that public-sector salaries increased by 7 percent in 2021, 8 percent in 2022, 6.5 percent in 2023, 10 percent in 2024 and 8 percent in 2025, which the Ministry of Finance says amounted to a cumulative increase of approximately 46 percent.

Campbell nevertheless argues that the increases should be measured against the far greater expansion of Guyana’s economy and the revenues generated from oil.

He also pointed to the record of the former A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration, asserting that public servants received a 76.7 percent increase during its 2015–2020 tenure. The historical calculation has been disputed by Government officials, who have used different methodologies in assessing wage growth during that period.

Campbell’s intervention therefore places the issue squarely at the intersection of oil wealth, public-sector wages and workers’ constitutional right to collective bargaining.

“The APNU stands with public servants and demands that we take care of our public servants and pay them better.”

The proposed 50 percent increase would represent a major departure from the Government’s recent annual salary-adjustment pattern and would have significant implications for the public-sector wage bill, national budgeting and negotiations between Government and public-sector unions.