A 10 per cent public sector pay cut last year will not be extended in the 2021-22 Budget, the Premier revealed tonight.

David Burt wrote on twitter: “We are most proud to recognise the sacrifice of public sector workers by presenting a budget that does not ask them for an additional year of the 10% pay reduction”.

Curtis Dickinson, the finance minister, revealed last May that loss of government revenue coupled with extra debt run up to cope with the effects of Covid-19 would require concessions from the public sector.

Public sector unions were asked to consider a 10 per cent cut for one year, along with a freeze on contributions to Social Insurance and the Superannuation Pension Fund, so that workers would not see a drop in their take-home pay.

The move was accepted by Bermuda Industrial Union, the Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Union of Teachers, but faced opposition from organisations such as the Police Officers Association.