Reform hurts workers

PARLIAMENTARY Services is one of the highest institutions of the land which serves the legislative arm of the government.
The vision of the previous speaker, Theo Zurenuoc, and the current speaker, Job Pomat, was to modernise the national Parliament and the restructure of the service was one of the key tools that was identified by the clerk to drive that vision.
The restructuring process started in 2013 and the implementation process is still ongoing.
However, the structure is OK but the current pay grades that is being reviewed and implemented is unrealistic and a joke.
The executive directors and managers will be earning salaries equivalent to deputy secretary and assistant secretary level respectively, or even more.
For instance, there is a huge salary variation of K3000 to K4000 per fortnight between a manager and a senior officer next in line.
Cronies recommended by the executive management are appointed to management positions and others are already being recruited without proper processes followed.
Permanent casual employees have been stood down even though they have been working there for over five years. The employees are restricted by the Parliamentary Service Act to take part in any form of protest or strike action.
Many believe that the clerk and the speaker are being badly advised by the executive management where office holders are so blinded by power and greed that they do not care how the majority of the employees have suffered, especially during these harsh economic times.

Concerned employee