HEART/NSTA Trust to announce incentive payment timelines amid employee frustration

HEART/NSTA Trust says it will inform staff of timelines for incentive and increment payments next Wednesday, amid frustration from some employees over what they describe as insufficient communication on when funds will be received.

In a response to queries from The Gleaner, the trust said it continues to manage all staff-related emoluments in line with approved governance procedures, financial regulations, policies, and prudent fiscal management.

“Matters relating to incentive and retroactive increment payments are internal administrative issues and are being addressed through structured engagement with staff,” the trust said. “Formal communication on the approved payment approach and timelines is an agenda item for our regular quarter 4 general staff meeting, scheduled for February 25, 2026.”

The organisation added that it “remains committed to fiscal responsibility, operational stability, and the prudent stewardship of public resources”.

The trust’s statement comes amid ongoing staff concerns about the status of salary increments and incentive payments for the 2024–2025 performance period. The trust did not respond to questions seeking the number of staff affected and the total value of outstanding payments.

“We have been waiting for the payments since at least August last year,” said one upset employee who did not want to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly on the issue. “I don't know why this has taken so long and we have been waiting for months for an update on when we can get what we are entitled to. We have families and lives, too.”

The Gleaner understands that an organisational performance appraisal was completed for the 2024–2025 period and the results qualified HEART for an incentive payout to staff. Several workers also reportedly advised of adjustments to their salaries, which resulted in the increment payments.

HEART/NSTA Trust is Jamaica’s statutory body responsible for skills training, vocational education, and workforce development. Its remit includes providing certification and training aligned to labour market needs through more than 75 institutions, community training sites, enterprise-based interventions, and adult education programmes.

The agency operates a “Triple Access Strategy” aimed at expanding access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET), enhancing certification quality, and targeting youth at risk through initiatives such as the Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) Programme.

That's according to budget documents tabled in the Parliament for the 2026-27 financial year, which will start on April 1. The current financial year, 2025-26 will end on March 31.

For the upcoming year, the agency projects to enroll over 108,000 trainees, with 41,070 expected to obtain certification.

The trust’s latest budget documents indicate a forecasted staff complement of 2,694, up from 2,350 in the current year. It also projects net surplus of $1 billion for 2026-27 following an estimated deficit of $1.3 billion in 2025-26.

HEART's operations are largely funded through employer contributions, calculated at 3% of their total pre-tax wage bill.

According to the budget documents, HEART projects $23.1 billion in employer contributions for the current financial year and $24.4 billion next year, representing the bulk of total income of $25.2 billion. The agency plans to spend $24 billion in 2026-27, down from an estimated $25 billion this year.

The projected expenses for 2026-27 include $4.3 billion for facilities (up from $3.6 billion in 2025-26 and $4.1 billion in 2024-25), $5.9 billion for training and subventions (down from $7.1 billion in 2025-26 and $6 billion in 2024-25). It has also indicated $11 billion for personnel and administration costs (down from $11.8 billion in 2025-26 and $13.4 billion in 2024-25).

In addition, HEART will contribute $400 million to support programmes administered by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, including the Sixth Form Pathways Programme and the integration of TVET in schools.

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