The Eastern Cape Department of Health has committed to
paying overtime claims of forensic pathology services workers by September 7.
The commitment comes after senior management met with NEHAWU
leaders on Wednesday evening to ensure workers go back to working overtime.
Though the Department committed at the meeting that the
outstanding overtime claims would be paid by September 7, Nehawu leaders
stressed that no agreement would be reached until the union got a mandate from
its members.
The Department received the thumbs up from the Department of
Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to pay the overtime claims.
The approval was sought because all overtime claims above
30% above salaries must be approved by the DPSA.
Acting HoD Msulwa Daca told union leaders that the matter is
being treated with urgency.
The Department will investigate the cause of this delay and
put measures in place to prevent future delays in the payment of
overtime.
Another meeting has been called for Monday afternoon, August
28.
Nehawu-affiliated workers stopped working overtime,
demanding their claims be immediately paid, a move that has resulted in a delay
in collecting bodies in parts of the province.
Until the matter has been resolved, the Department will
continue with its contingency measures that are in place to ensure services do
not grind to a halt.
