Starting April 1, senior government officials will get a commuted allowance of 15% of their basic salary. According to a Savingram dated March 19, 2024 from Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Gabatlotlane Mogapi, senior officers from E2 and above have not been paid overtime even when engaged in government business after hours. “It is on the basis of the foregoing that a decision has been made to introduce a commuted overtime allowance of 15% of basic salary. The above applies to executive officers (E2 and above) who are currently not receiving some form of overtime compensation. The overtime allowance is effective April 2023,” read the Savingram.
Furthermore, it says that when calculating arrears from April 2023, where the claimed overtime for certain month is greater than 15% commuted allowance, no arrears will be paid for the specific month. Similarly, it further states that where the overtime claimed is less than 15%, the difference shall be paid as arrears for that month. According to the Savingram, the commuted allowance shall apply and there shall be no other overtime claims outside the commuted allowance. Members of the five Cooperating Trade Unions (5CTU) have called on their members and the entire civil servants to remain hopeful, resilient in demand for better welfare and conditions of service at a time when the Executive management have used their authority to award themselves huge increments but become conservative when it comes to other categories of employees.
