DBS employees sue govt over unpaid overtime

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday March 12, 2010 00:00

This is reported to have demoralised staff to the point that the quality of production has now been affected as some staff members are no longer motivated. For instance, two senior broadcasters Last Rakgasa and Christopher Modibedi, who have been with Radio Botswana for over two decades, have indicated that they would sue their employer, as they are owed thousands of Pula in overtime payments.

According to a source, the two officers have now taken up the matter with their lawyers as they have spent years hoping the issue would be resolved. A letter passed to this paper, dated March 3, 2010, addressed to the Director of Broadcasting Services, shows that Rakgasa is owed approximately P27, 000 accumulated after his promotion in July 2008. Modibedi is owed approximately P38, 000 due to unpaid overtime after his promotion in July 2006. 

'All overtime and holidays worked by clients have been duly acknowledged by clients' supervisors, most significantly the number of extra hours worked,' the letter from the lawyers reads.

According to the source, government employees at D4 scale and above are not entitled to overtime but at the mass media complex, things are run differently.

'For instance, when you are promoted to that scale, you continue doing the work you did at a lower scale as well as additional work. This means, you work more than your juniors whilst they get better remuneration than you because they are paid for overtime,' she said.

The letter from the lawyers further reads that the Director acknowledged at a staff meeting he addressed in December, that there was a build-up of overtime claims from officers of D4 including D2 level.

'It is perhaps significant to note, having acknowledged a build-up of overtime, and admission of indebtedness with respect to claims, that are due and payable, you state in your email correspondence under reference that, D-band officers previously did not qualify for such payment, which statement is not justifiable contractually as it misrepresents the actual terms and conditions of the contract between clients and government,' the letter reads.

The attorneys for the two demand that government pays the sums within a period of 30 days or face legal action.The department was recently moved to the Office of the President after the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology was dissolved. It is said that over 100 officers from other departments such as Botswana Television (BTV), Botswana Press Agency (BOPA), and the two radio stations are suffering in silence over the same issue.

When contacted for comment, Modibedi denied knowledge about either the lawsuit or the letter we have referred to. He said that he is not authorized to talk to the media about MMC issues and referred our enquiries to the DBS Director Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo. His colleague, Rakgasa also denied knowledge of the lawsuit and referred our enquiries to Kaboeamodimo.

Attempts to get a comment from Kaboeamodimo were futile at the time of going to press, as his phone rang unanswered. However, the Coordinator of Government Information Services said the matter was under investigation. 'I have forwarded your questions to the Director of Broadcasting Services. I am otherwise aware that the matter is being looked into in the context of the existing conditions of service for 'D' level officers, which are currently applicable throughout the Public Service,' he responded.