UHM calls for inquiry

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) has written to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) requesting the recruitment of more principal officers with the government and an investigation into the delayed payment of performance bonuses to directors and assistant directors within the Finance Ministry.

In a letter to the OPM's Management and Personnel Office, the union explained that last December about 90 people had passed the test to make the grade of principal officer but, until now, only 50 had been recruited.

The UHM expressed concern over the effect this might have on workers' motivation, especially in cases were they had passed the test more than once. The union insisted that such workers should be recruited before the result's term expired in December.

In a second letter which the UHM sent to the permanent secretary at the OPM, the union said that the posts of director and assistant director were based on three-year and five-year contracts respectively, and a performance bonus was one of the job conditions.

After investigating the payment of such bonuses the UHM learnt that the directors and assistant directors in the Ministry of Finance had not been paid.

The UHM had brought this to the attention of the OPM last July but there still was no result, it said.

When contacted by The Times a government spokesman said no comments could be made about the matter at this stage.