PWD Staff Hit By Overtime Blues
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Several disgruntled staff of the Public Works Department complained over the alleged delay in overtime payment that has been due since August this year.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the staff, categorised under the `permanent job' basis, lamented such late dues.

"We approached the department's accountant who said that there was no budget available as the current budget had already closed and the new budget will only be available around April next year. What puzzled us was that those on `open vote' have had their overtime paid.

"We have families to feed, car instalments to pay and it's not easy to apply for a loan nowadays. We are not even allowed to withdraw the annual bonus. Everything is affected and we are hopeless," said the staff member who normally receives overtime payment of up to $600 a month.

"We are going to meet the higher authority either today or tomorrow and discuss the matter. Our salary is not much and we rely on overtime payments. If we are to wait till April next year, it would be overdue for eight months," he added hoping the relevant authority would rectify the problem.

The Bulletin learnt that he is not the only person affected by the `overtime blues', but a large number of employees from other sections of the department are also affected. The Bulletin also learnt that there is a budget available to pay the contractors.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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