More Good News For Civil Servants

Many can claim overtime now on top of their salary increases

More civil servants, except teachers, will now be able to claim overtime for working extra hours. Teachers have never been paid overtime because of the nature of their work but everything is built into their salaries.

Previously civil servants earning up to $24,667 could claim overtime but now every civil servant who falls under the new bands meaning everyone under Band E is now eligible for overtime.

There is more good news for nurses. On top of the salary increments,

although they fall under Band F, nurses will be able to claim overtime.

This was allowed by Government keeping in mind extraordinary hours nurses work. And those who went up the salary scale following the pay rise will also be allowed to claim overtime.

For example, an Assistant Admin Officer who was previously earning $20,189 and was eligible for overtime, and who is now earning $22,215.38 can still claim for overtime.

The change further ensures that if that officer is performing and moves up the steps in their band, even to the top of that band at $30,516.63, this won’t affect their eligibility for overtime.

Nurses on Band F are also eligible for overtime. This ensures that although they have an increased salary, and even when their performance is assessed and confirmed and they move through the steps on their band, they will remain eligible for overtime.

Again, this applies right up to the top of that band for nurses, which is $36,103.75. Under the old cap, they would no longer have been eligible for overtime. This is in recognition of their duty of care, the long hours and the effort that is required of them in their clinical roles.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Services and Communications said this was in recognition of the work civil servants were doing.

He said they reviewed overtime allowances which would be based on the Salary Band of an officer rather than on the Salary Scale which was previously the case. He said it would apply to both substantial and acting positions. Previously, only civil servants who earned less than $24,667 annually were eligible for overtime.

“Under the new system, civil servants, excluding teachers, whose current position is on Band E or below are now eligible for overtime allowances. The maximum annual salary for Band E is capped at $30, 515.63,” he said.

He further stated that as part of the reform, the Government recognised the long hours that nurses work and from September 1, 2017, registered nurses on Band F are also eligible for overtime.

The maximum annual salary for Band F is capped at $36,103.75.

He said this increase was part of a wider review of the Civil Service General Orders. He highlighted that the review by Government took into account various factors including Fiji’s socio-economic position, the need to modernise Fiji’s civil service, the need to bring in and retain civil servants based on merit and performance and to align to the prevailing market conditions. Edited by Naisa Koroi