The Civil Servants Association (CSA), has demanded, among other things, the reinstatement of full salary to all Civil Servants as it was prior to April 2010 and want an answer by today, Monday March 21st.
In a release it was noted that in April 2010 the Government had implemented a 10% cut in Civil Servants salary which was supposed to have saved 7 Million dollars and reduce the need to make persons redundant.
According to the CSA statement: “This 7 million dollars saving has been realized. The recent repayment of the SIPT expenditure by the British Government to TCIG has now made available 7 plus million dollars which should be paid to Civil Servants retroactively for the 10% salary cut. The introduction of the new taxation measures will make it difficult for Civil Servants to meet their basic needs without the reinstatement of this 10% salary cut.”
The CSA noted that the decision taken by the Interim Administration on the advice of the Customs Tariff Advisor to change the tariff system has resulted in a significant shortfall in government revenue for which Civil Servants are now being asked to pay for with the various reductions in Pension and Payroll.
The CSA is also demanding the immediate payment of Pension to all retired Civil Servants who are so entitled and the calculation of such pension payments as provided for in the Pension Ordinance and Regulations; payment of Gratuity to all retired Civil Servants who are eligible for such if so requested and the calculation of such according to provisions in the Pension Ordinance and Regulations and payment of pension and gratuity to all Civil Servants whose posts were abolished such as persons who were transferred to the New Hospital.
The CSA also rejected the proposal to amend the Pension Ordinance so as to remove the option for Civil Servants to receive up to 25 percent of their pension as gratuity upon retirement from the service or upon abolition of their post and it is requesting that all Civil Servants employed in a pensionable post after April 5, 1992 and who have been confirmed in such post be paid a gratuity upon retirement from the service or on being made redundant as provided for in the Pension Ordinance for persons employed before April 6, 1992.
The CSA also recommend that the following provisions within the General Orders regarding leave are followed: G.O 8.1.17 makes prevision for all leave accumulated prior to the General Orders coming into force (1998) to be used in the 5 proceeding years and the remainder to be held over until retirement. Also G.O. 8.1.17 speaks to in exceptional circumstances that the Chief Secretary (now PSC) can allow leave above 30 days to be accumulated and hence individuals must retain that right to make representation to the PSC. We further recommend that persons with excess leave are allowed to proceed on it into early retirement, and the value be paid in monthly installments as another option to minimize upfront costs.
The CSA statement continued: “ We support the Acting Appointments for 3 months at a time but propose that the application of salaries for that appointment be standardized to the difference between the persons’ salary and not the issuing of responsibility allowance. We recommend that Acting Allowance should be issued as provided for in the General Orders. We recommend that Professional allowance be clearly defined and how and to whom it will be issued.
The government has not responded to these demands up to press time.
