20 Dec 2020

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security intends to have paid officers in the Maun Administrative Authority their outstanding allowance by the end of April 2021.

Assistant Minister, Ms Beauty Manake said 23 drivers were owed P130 336.90, while 14 night watchmen still had to be paid P151 293.75. 

She said P141 052. 77 was owed to 34 Gatekeepers. 

She also noted that 15 gatekeepers were owed the Remote Area Service Allowance (RASA) and commuted subsistence allowance amounting to P332 632. 07.

Ms Manake said the three departments that owed workers allowances were Veterinary Services, Crop Production and Agricultural Research.

She said the ministry was considering to adopt the commuted payment system for allowances as an effort to avert delays in payment of workers dues. 

She said where applicable, officers would be paid commuted allowances as part of their monthly salary, thereby, avoiding any delays in payment.

Ms Manake highlighted that accumulated arrears for RASA resulted from the conversion of employees from the 22 working days month to a 26 working days month category.

She said the system rejected them automatically and assured Parliament that the problem was being attended to. 

Maun West MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, had wanted to know when workers owed outstanding allowances, in particular drivers, night watchmen and gate keepers in the Maun Administrative Authority, would be paid. ends