Works ministry cuts S&T, overtime The Ministry of Works and Transport has put on hold spending such as travel and overtime as part of its budget cuts.Finance minister Calle Schlettwein last month announced extensive cuts in government expenditure in response to the waning global and domestic economic conditions.
As part of his second annual mid-term budget review, Schlettwein announced a freeze on N$5.5 billion in spending allocated in the N$66 billion national budget tabled in February.
The overall budget cuts amount to N$634 million on personnel expenditure; N$528 million on travel allowances, material suppliers and transport; N$379.6 million on subsidies and current transfers, as well as N$278 million on the acquisition of capital assets.
The works ministry said in an internal memorandum to its staff that budget cuts will be made from 15 November until 31 March next year.
It said all vacancies and new positions have been frozen and no training will take place within the ministry.
The ministry also announced that all previously approved overtime has been stopped, while approval for overtime will be granted only in exceptional cases.
Furthermore all travelling by ministry staff has been suspended. Contacted for comment yesterday, the ministry''s permanent secretary, Willem Goeieman, told Namibian Sun that he was in China and referred questions to the acting permanent secretary, who could not be reached for comment.
Ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda assured Namibian Sun that the spending cuts would not have an impact on the ministry''s operations.
Even though the internal memo clearly states that all overtime has been stopped, he explained that overtime will be approved in the case of essential services.
For instance, Ngweda explained that air traffic controllers will still receive overtime pay, while administration and finance staff won''t.
He also made it clear that only essential travelling will be allowed. He mentioned that many employees have been flying abroad to attend short courses. “This is not needed and therefore will be stopped.”
Road works will continue as usual and people need not worry about maintenance of schools and hospitals.
“We will not sacrifice essential services,” he said.
“Even though there may be cutbacks the operations will continue as normal,” he said.
He added that the memo was just to inform staff to get their work done within an eight-hour day.