Government has warned employers in the road transport industry to follow the Wages Regulation (Road Transport) Order which came in to effect on 31st of October, 2012.
Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Mr Jone Usamate has further urged employers to pay workers employed in the road transport sector a minimum rate of remuneration.
For example, heavy PSV Drivers in bus industry are to be paid $3.16 an hour while light PSV Drivers are paid $2.67 an hour.
The heavy goods drivers are paid $3.23 an hour while mechanic and repair man in bus and taxi industry are paid $3.27 an hour.
Mr Jone Usamate has also reminded transport industry employers to ensure workers follow the required work hours of eight hours per day for six days.
He added that normal hours work must not be worked out for more than two shifts.
In terms of overtime, the Minister highlights that all transport operators must pay in excess of eight hours work for the first four hours, time and half time workers hourly rate of pay and thereafter twice the workers normal rate of pay.
For all work on public holidays, the workers must receive twice the workers normal rate of pay.
Mr Usamate added that workers are required to get $7.00 as meal claim or a decent hot meal after two hours of overtime in a normal working day.
Workers are entitled to get paid 10 days annual leave and 10 days sick leave with three days bereavement leave.
The Ministry of Labour has recovered a total of $84,238.43 and paid to workers from the road transport industry in terms of their arrears of wages and entitlement dues through complaints lodged to the ministry by workers and through conducting labour inspection by Labour officers.
In light of this, Mr Usamate has also warned employers to strictly followed the terms and conditions set out in the Wages Regulations Order and in the Employment Relations Promulgation (ERP) 2007.
-ENDS-