Cabinet Alters Non-established Workers' Terms of Service

~~Adz:Left~~Roadtown; Tortola: Thursday, 14 August – Cabinet has approved several changes to the terms and conditions of service which apply to full-time non-established workers.

Acting Director of Human Resources Mrs. Michelle Donovan Stevens said the changes, which took effect on July 1, 2008, are in keeping with Government’s objective to bring the conditions of service for non-established workers more in line with those of established workers.

The changes are as follows:

• In addition to the Labour Code, appointments will be subject to General Orders and the Appointment to Public Office (Devolution of Human Resource Functions) Regulations, 2008.

• Workers will earn 18 days vacation leave per annum.

• Workers will be eligible for 14 days sick leave per annum, approved by the Head of Department, or 30 days per annum approved by the Authorised Officer.

• After completing two years of service, workers will be eligible for three months maternity leave: one month on full salary and two months on half salary.

• Paternity, adoption, and other forms of leave will be granted in accordance with General Orders.

• Salary will be paid twice per month, on the 15th and at the end of the month.

• Overtime will be paid monthly after authorisation by the Ministry of Finance.

• Workers’ contribution to Social Security will remain at 4 percent.

• Disciplinary actions will be administered in accordance with the Appointment to Public Office (Devolution of Human Resource Functions) Regulations, 2008.

Another significant change now in effect is that the management of non-established workers previously carried out by the Ministry of Finance will now be administered by Authorised Officers. Authorised Officers are the Attorney General, Cabinet Secretary, Financial Secretary, Permanent Secretaries, and the Commissioner of Police.

The Acting Director noted that a meeting was held with Human Resource Managers on July 31 to come to a mutual understanding of the way forward.

In the past, non-established workers were governed only by the provisions of the Labour Code, while established workers were governed by General Orders. The recent decision by Cabinet comes after the successful transfer of some 114 full-time non-established workers to the establishment in 2007 and 2008.