Community Service Officers (CSOs) will see their stipends increased immediately to match the wages of workers under the government’s part-time jobs initiative. This adjustment raises the CSO stipend from $35,000 to $40,000.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced the increase on Sunday during the Amerindian Cultural Extravaganza 2024 at the National Park in Georgetown. The government introduced this change to bridge the gap between the hinterland and coastal regions, aiming to ensure equitable treatment and opportunities for all citizens.
“I want to say to you that with immediate effect, we want the stipend for CSOs to be the same as our part-time workers. It will match the $40,000 that they’re getting because there must be no difference in our approach,” President Ali stated.
The CSO programme is part of the Youth Entrepreneurial and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), which the government reinstated in 2020. The programme currently employs nearly 2,700 CSOs and injects over $1 billion into the economy annually. The 2024 budget allocated $1.2 billion to the programme.
In addition to the stipend increase for CSOs, the government has expanded the part-time jobs programme to include toshaos, who now receive an additional allowance of $40,000. Plans are also underway to extend this allowance to senior counsellors and community development leaders in Amerindian communities.
“This will inject tens of millions of dollars more into the community, but more importantly, it will show these leaders that we value, recognize, and acknowledge their service,” President Ali explained.
The part-time jobs initiative, implemented by the Office of the Vice President in 2022, also falls under the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. This year, the ministry has been allocated a total of $10 billion to further advance the programme.
President Ali reiterated the government’s commitment to taking all necessary steps to alleviate the challenges faced by these communities, ensuring they have equal access to resources and opportunities as their coastal counterparts.
