BY- POSITIVE FM
The organised labour Unions and the Ondo state government have agreed to the approval of the immediate payment of five months outstanding deductions from Salaries of the state workers from February to June, this year.
Similarly, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ordered payment of 2018 leave bonus to all workers and settlement of 2019 leave bonus for workers on grade level one to six.
This formed part of the decisions reached by both government’s representatives and labour unions when Mr Akeredolu held a crucial meeting with them in Akure.
The organised labour under the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had two weeks ago sent a letter to the governor to demand payment of some of the workers’ outstanding entitlements ranging from 2018, 2019 leave bonus, unpaid accumulated deduction from February, 2020 till date.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the State Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye as well as the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo said the government would also settle Special COVID-19 hazard allowance of May,2020 of health workers.
Mr Aragbaiye noted that out of the available resources of government, sixty-eight percent of June salary and pensions would be paid to local government workers.
Also speaking at a labour meeting in Akure, three unions’ leaders, Comrade Oluwaniyi Fabunmi of JNC; Sunday Adeleye-Oluwole of NLC and the vice chairman of TUC, Clement Fatuase, said they agreed to the payment arrangements to save workers who had mortgaged their salaries with cooperatives and loans from untold hardship.
The labour leaders declared that the latest agreement would go a long way in strengthening harmonious relationship between the Akeredolu’s government and the labour unions in the state.
Ojogo said, “in line with the spirit of Mr. Governor who had insisted and still insisting that the welfare of workers will be given premium attention, he has approved the following which has also been accepted by the leadership of the labour unions; that the deductions for the state from February to June 2020 should be paid in full.
“That the 68 percent June salary and pensions of the local government service should also be paid; that the 2018 leave bonus for workers on grade levels 07-17 in all services should also be paid, that the special COVID-19 hazard and risk allowance from May 2020 be paid to medical and health workers without further delay, that the 2019 leave bonus for workers from grade levels 01-06 in all services should also be paid.
Cov/leke Adegbite