The Antigua and Barbuda government has announced plans to settle outstanding payments owed to public servants whose salaries were interrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Permanent secretaries have been tasked with collecting and validating claims from employees affected by pay suspensions, reduced hours or unpaid leave during the emergency period. Claims must be submitted to the relevant ministry by 31 December 2025.

Verified claims will then be processed by the Treasury, with disbursements expected to start in January 2026.

The government said the decision forms part of efforts to address financial hardship caused by pandemic-era restrictions. Officials are urging affected workers to meet the deadline to ensure timely payment, a move likely to be welcomed by unions and public sector employees who have long raised concerns over unresolved salary losses.