OP struggles to pay overtime allowances

The Office of the President under the Ministry of State President is said to be failing to pay overtime allowance for public workers.

Information coming from OP suggests that the office has for some time been struggling to keep up with paying overtime allowances for the staff even though they earned such as they worked long hours. Mostly affected are said to be private secretaries, drivers and other support staff who would have worked overtime.

The OP staff members are not the first under the State President Ministry to be faced with this ordeal. For some time, Mass Media employees were once in a protracted clash with the management over owed overtime allowances. The employees of both Departments of Information Services and Broadcasting Services were affected.

Sources at the office have revealed that the issue has been swept under the carpet for some time as some of the funds are being used to finance Head of State and his entourage trips within the continent and internally. President Mokgweetsi Masisi has for some time come under fire over his international trips which his opponents have labelled as personal lavish travel disguised in the name of the country.

Most of the President’s travels that have raised eyebrows are the one for United States of America especially Texas. While Masisi has indicated that his travels are for seeking opportunities for the country, strengthening bilateral relations and luring investors into the country, his opponents have maintained that he is an absent president who prefers to travel and tour the country instead of addressing problems at home.

In most instances, the funds for the president’s travel and his entourage cover subsistence costs, incidental as well as transportation and hotel expenses.

“The office is struggling to keep up with paying the allowances because some of the funds are taken and used for the President’s travel. This always depletes the votes including the one for overtime very quickly,” an insider said.

Another source has revealed that the employees are always afraid to speak against this as they fear victimisation given the status of the office.

“A fear has been instilled that they are under surveillance by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and their cellphones have been tapped. Funds were released in April this year and within three months are being depleted.

Does it mean overtime was under budgeted for? Or there has been virements to the H.E travel votes and his entourage to enable his numerous trips?” another source wondered.

Permanent Secretary to the President, Emmah Peloetletse had not responded to enquiries on the matter.

Minister for State President Kabo Morwaeng referred this publication to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry Goitsemang Morekisi who could not be reached for comment.

Government has for sometimes been failing to address challenges facing the management of the overtime vote in the public service. In 2015 the Presidential Ministry stated that government is facing problems of management of overtime due to challenges related to implementation of the Public Service Act of 2008.

In the following year 2016, government through the office of Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) instructed accounting officers in various departments to ensure that public servants’ overtime allowances do not exceed 10 percent of their basic salary.

This according to the Circular Savingram No.5 of 2016, was meant for containing public spending consistent with the government’s fiscal policy of effective expenditure management and control.