MINISTER for Employment Agni Deo Singh says the ministry has received numerous concerns regarding workers not being paid overtime pay and meal allowance.
Mr Singh said workers need ample rest after completing certain number of hours and must be compensated correctly for overtime work.
“The law is very clear,” Mr Singh said.
“There are a lot concerns about workers being short changed, not being paid overtime, not being paid holiday pay and not being paid meal allowance. Anything beyond the normal working hours which is 48 hours must attract overtime pay.
“There is an eight hour normal working hours every day for six days to complete 45 hours of work. If they work for five days, they can work for nine hours which is 45 hours a week.
“So at six days, with eight hours a day, completes the 48 hours a week. Anything beyond that must attract overtime pay. The first two hours after eight hours would be time and a half and thereafter, double time will kickoff and meal allowance comes in.
“Workers must also be compensated correctly for any overtime work they do. They also need ample rest and there is certain number of hours they should do and after that, they should be released to rest.”
Mr Singh also said recent cases of workers not being paid fairly has been compensated by their employers.
“We are addressing the issue as they come,” he said.
“We have several cases before the court where we are waiting for adjudication while there are those that have already been paid up by the employers.
“Those monies have been forwarded to the concerned workers.”
