Tackling sets November deadline for Justice worker placements

GREAT BAY--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has outlined the next steps in the long-running placement process for Justice workers, announcing that approximately Cg. 5.1 million has been budgeted in 2026 and another Cg. 5.1 million in 2027 to address the financial obligations associated with the process.

Speaking during Thursday’s public debate on the draft 2026 National Budget, Tackling said the allocations are consistent with agreements made under previous governments and stressed that the Ministry is working toward bringing the outstanding placement matters to a conclusion.

The Minister said Phase One is nearing completion, with 15 active employees still awaiting their national decrees. In addition, seven employees who resigned after January 1, 2023, remain entitled to Phase One placement.

According to Tackling, the remaining cases will be consolidated into a single batch for processing, with the Ministry aiming to finalize the work and submit the files to the Ministry of Finance no later than the end of November 2026.

Attention will then turn to Phase Two, which Tackling said will commence after the 2026 Budget has been handled.

Phase Two involves the validation of calculations for Justice sector employees, going back as far as 2010 where applicable. The Ministry intends to begin with the smaller Justice departments before moving on to the larger ones.

Each department will be responsible for reviewing and validating its own calculations, supported by the Staff Bureau and a dedicated project team reporting directly to the Secretary-General.

Tackling said she has requested a project dashboard to provide a clearer picture of progress throughout the exercise.

The purpose, she explained, is to ensure that employees and unions receive verified information rather than estimates, while also allowing the Ministry to identify delays early and take corrective action where necessary.

The Minister said the target is to have all Phase Two calculations validated by November 30, 2026.

Following validation, draft advice will be forwarded to the relevant Government departments. Once the necessary review and formal approval process is completed, the documentation will be expedited to the Governor.

Tackling also referred to December 15 as the deadline the Ministry has set for itself within the Phase Two process, while cautioning that the eventual payment stage involves responsibilities outside of the Ministry of Justice.

On payments, the Minister told Parliament she wanted to be clear with both MPs and affected Justice workers.

Payments can only be processed once the Department of Salaries and Wages receives the signed national decrees. The payment schedule will then be handled in accordance with Article 4 of the addendum to the covenant signed between the Committee of Civil Servants Unions and the Minister of Justice on October 14, 2022.

“As Minister of Justice, I do not have direct authority over this step when it comes to the payments,” Tackling explained.

She nevertheless committed to maintaining close coordination with the relevant authorities and supporting efforts to ensure Phase Two is completed within the intended timeframe.

The Minister also provided an update on Phase Three, which covers retired Justice employees.

That phase is expected to begin following completion of Phase Two, with the Ministry presently anticipating that the work could start during the second quarter of 2027.

Tackling stopped short of presenting that timeframe as a firm deadline, explaining that progress will depend on the completion of Phase Two, cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the necessary ratification process.

The Justice Minister closed the update with two commitments to affected employees.

First, she said the outstanding placement matters are being treated with the urgency they deserve, particularly given how long employees have been waiting for resolution.

“The people affected have waited, and they are entitled to conclusion rather than mere reassurance,” Tackling said.

Second, she pledged that information communicated to employees and unions will be based on the latest verified status of the placement process rather than estimates that could later have to be corrected.

“A figure given quickly and corrected later costs more confidence than a figure given properly the first time,” the Minister said.

Tackling said the Ministry’s focus is therefore on completing the outstanding work methodically, maintaining coordination with Finance and other Government departments, and providing Justice workers with accurate information as each phase progresses.

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