Overtime dispute reaches deadlock

TALKS on an overtime payment dispute between the Karas Regional Council and its staff yesterday ended inconclusively after the parties failed to reach agreement.

The workers are demanding payment for work they had done during a visit by the Northern Cape Premier to the Karas Region late last year. According to one staff member, who did not want his name published, the Council has refused to budge on its stance of offering workers time off instead of overtime payment.The staffer said workers refused the offer and might now get legal advice.Council said at yesterday’s meeting that it had informed staff members in advance not to expect any overtime payment because of budgetary constraints, the staffer told The Namibian.The staffer accused the Council of double standards, saying those who had worked overtime during the inauguration of the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency Office had been paid overtime.The issue was also brought to the attention of the Namibia Public Workers Union but could not be resolved as the council refused to budge from its earlier undertaking to give the workers time-off instead of cash payment.The staff had claimed the Labour Act entitles them to either take time-off or settle for payment, which they demand in this case.The Council’s Chief Regional Officer, Salmaan Jacobs, declined to comment yesterday.According to one staff member, who did not want his name published, the Council has refused to budge on its stance of offering workers time off instead of overtime payment.The staffer said workers refused the offer and might now get legal advice.Council said at yesterday’s meeting that it had informed staff members in advance not to expect any overtime payment because of budgetary constraints, the staffer told The Namibian.The staffer accused the Council of double standards, saying those who had worked overtime during the inauguration of the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency Office had been paid overtime.The issue was also brought to the attention of the Namibia Public Workers Union but could not be resolved as the council refused to budge from its earlier undertaking to give the workers time-off instead of cash payment.The staff had claimed the Labour Act entitles them to either take time-off or settle for payment, which they demand in this case.The Council’s Chief Regional Officer, Salmaan Jacobs, declined to comment yesterday.