Civil servants earn Lm1.7m in summer overtime

The civil service's overtime bill for the summer months, when the public sector works half days, last year surpassed Lm1.7 million, The Times has learnt.

In both 2002 and 2001, overtime in July, August and September cost taxpayers over Lm2 million, according to official documents seen by The Times.

When, during last Saturday's media briefing, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi made a fleeting reference to the overtime bill paid to civil servants in the summer months he let off a wry smile which said a thousand words.

He knowingly challenged the media to try and find out what the overtime bill comes to.

Sources close to the government said the time was ripe to see how the civil service could become leaner and smarter and be in a position to assist - rather than act as an obstacle to - economic growth.

"The government is making its calculations to see how to make the service more efficient and more productive and at the same time cut costs. Whether this will involve the reduction or abolition of half days is yet to be seen but a way has to be found to create a civil service geared to supporting the private sector much more effectively. The 'value for money' concept will be the overriding principle that the government will adopt in this exercise," the sources said.

The government will soon be meeting trade unions to open talks on the next collective agreement for civil servants.

The sources said: "Obviously, this business of overtime in summer will be on the agenda during the talks. One would have to discuss whether the bill for overtime in summer would be reduced, and by how much, if half-days were to be abolished.

"Would the removal of half days enable the civil service to be of greater assistance to the economy?"