22 Feb 2013

Ministry of Agriculture paid 15 per cent of basic salary as commuted overtime allowance to staff engaged in the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) project in containment Zone Six.

Answering a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister Oreeditse Molebatsi said staff members were dissatisfied with the overtime rating which resulted in court proceedings.

He said a court order was then issued instructing the ministry to pay them 100 per cent for hours worked.

“It is in line with this, that my ministry is aware that some 188 staff members are still owed the difference in overtime allowance as per the court order. Therefore, arrangements are being made to pay as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi further said the delay in paying the employees as instructed by court was regretted and they would be paid soon.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister when the veterinary employees who were engaged at the zone six FMD control gates would be paid their overtime allowance.

He had also wanted to know why the minister had taken so long to honour the court order to pay the said employees. ENDS