The Government has suspended overtime payments for civil servants as part of cost-cutting measures during the ongoing fuel emergency.
According to a circular issued by Permanent Secretary for Civil Service Pita Tagicakirewa, the decision follows an announcement by the Prime Minister on April 8.
“In an address to the nation on 8 April 2026, the Honourable Prime Minister announced the suspension of overtime payments and the application of TOIL as part of the Government’s ‘cost mitigating measures’ during this Fuel Emergency Management period,” he states in the circular issued on April 14.
Rhe directive confirms that, effective from April 8, overtime payments have been suspended for all eligible officers and government wage earners.
Instead, eligible employees — including those on salary Band E and nurses on Band F — may claim time off in lieu (TOIL) for hours worked outside normal schedules.
“With effect from 8 April 2026, the payment of overtime is suspended for all eligible officers and government wage earners,” the circular states.
The document also reiterates that TOIL must be managed strictly, with ministries required to ensure accrued time off is used within six months and not carried forward indefinitely.
Permanent Secretaries have been instructed to ensure overtime is approved only in exceptional circumstances.
“In all circumstances the need is to be identified by the Permanent Secretary/Head of Agency/Manager, not by the individuals concerned,” the circular states.
The circular has been distributed to all Permanent Secretaries and applies across ministries and departments, superseding previous directives on overtime management.
