Government confirms it will deduct salary from striking public officers, reduce working hours

By Aaron Humes: Participants in the ongoing strike by public officers against the Government will see their pay deducted retroactive to May 14 from the next payday.

By circular from Ministry of the Public Service CEO Dr. Rolando Zetina, chief executive officers and heads of department are being asked to begin the process of deduction by listing names, posts, affiliation with Ministry or Department, and number of absent days to the Payroll Unit in the Ministry of Finance by June 4.

Members of the Public Service Union (PSU) and Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) continue on strike regardless.

Meanwhile, by separate circular, CEO Dr Zetina informed the same offices that the Government has agreed by a letter of clarification to its letter of undertaking to approve a reduction of five hours to the public sector work week by Regulation 32 of the Public Service Regulations, 2014, effective June 14.

However, office opening hours remain the same and there is no closure of Government offices during lunch, necessitating a rotation schedule for public officers to be prepared and monitored by all Ministries and Departments. 

Former PSU President Gerald Henry hit upon this as a strategy to reduce the burden on public officers and the bills the Government pays for utilities at its offices countrywide. After some initial confusion when the Government agreed to four less hours weekly, it conceded the additional hour.

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