Cops Mull Over 'Go Slow'
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 15, 2018 13:26
It is rumoured that some dejected officers who can no longer hide their displeasure have been planning a ‘go slow’ response to their plight.
The officers are demanding to be paid their outstanding gratuity, severance and leave days with immediate effect. This publication has learnt that the officers said payments are overdue, but the instituation has been reluctant to fulfil the payments after they were hired five years ago.
The BPS owes officers severance payments that they were supposed to have paid them before the Special Constable two-year contract introduced back in 2016.
It is alleged that in the past officers tried to register their displeasure over the matter through Special Constable’s Welfare offices countrywide to no avail. This has since frustrated them as they appear to have now lost hope of ever receiving their dues.
As for gratuity the last batch of officers who were hired on a two-year contract could have been paid starting from December last year, then February and March this year but to date they are yet to receive their payments.
This occurs despite their contracts having stated that officers should be paid a month after their contracts expire. Officers have allegedly worked the whole of 2018 without taking their leave days after they were advised not to do so following promises that they would be paid their leave days, but to date they are still to receive payments.The Monitor is reliably informed that some officers were dismissed from work with others still being victimised for voicing out their displeasure on the matter.
This has resulted in officers reporting for duty frustrated and afraid that they could lose their jobs.
For years Special Constables have been praised for the endless dedication they have towards their work as well as fighting crime all over the country. This has resulted in the defence ministry years ago resloving to train and re-deploy some of them.
Special Constables might not be having the requisite training nor the needed resources to effectively combat crime, but their presence in the streets and pathways has over the years been praised for effectively containing crime. Asked about the payment dispute last Wednesday, BPS deputy public relations officer, Senior Superintendent Near Bagali demanded a questionnaire to in order to liaise with the Police Commissioner. On Friday whilst this publication was looking forward to an official response, Bagali contacted us stating that the process is ongoing to pay officers their dues.
Immediately after speaking to The Monitor, the BPS Facebook page was updated with a list of former Special Constables who were advised to contact headquarters, a move that one might say was evidently influenced by this publication’s enquiry.
“Officers are being paid as we speak, it is a continuous exercise and there is a direct team handling the matter. Some were on contract and are longer employed by the police force hence efforts are being made to locate them. The list is being prepared and will be published on our Facebook page and other media platforms,” Bagali said.
He dismissed allegations that some officers were victimised for seeking their payments stating that every employee is allowed to voice out their concerns without fear.
“No one is being victimised and no one has been dismissed for voicing out their rights. As it has been the procedure when their contracts come to an end, we start processing the payments for their severance benefits, but not dismissing the possibilities of delays here and there,” Bagali said.