Lifting of 8-hour austerity comes with responsibility

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos issued yesterday a directive lifting an eight-hour austerity to bring the government’s work hours from the current 64 to 72 biweekly beginning July 29 up to Sept. 30, before being restored to full 80 hours starting Oct. 1.

But with the restoration of eight hours comes responsibility.

“While I am pleased to be able to lift austerity, albeit partially, I remind all government employees that we are all public servants entrusted to deliver the needs of the community as a whole and as such, we should work diligently during the eight additional hours to improve services to the public and do our part to improve the economy,” Inos said in his one-page directive to departments and agencies.

Under a 64-hour work biweekly, many government employees do not report for work every Friday.

But because it’s going to be 72 hours biweekly, employees will now be also working every other Friday.

Next Friday, Aug. 3, will be a work day.

Every “payday Friday” will be the only “austerity Friday” until Sept. 30.

Inos confirmed with Saipan Tribune on Tuesday that a decision had already been made to go back to 72 hours starting next week.

That directive, issued yesterday, said effective pay period beginning on July 29 or pay period no. 17, work hours will increase from 64 hours to 72 hours biweekly.

Inos said all department and activity heads are advised to immediately review their fund balances for the remainder of the fiscal year to confirm the availability of funds to cover the cost for the increase in work hours.

“No department or agency may increase work hours if fund balances are insufficient to cover the additional eight working hours for the remainder of the fiscal year,” Inos said.

He said he and the governor thank government employees “for their partnership and patience during these trying economic times.”

Ray Bermudes, a 54-year-old employee at the Saipan Mayor’s Office, gave a sigh of relief yesterday that the government will increase his work hours. “Working and getting paid only 64 hours is creating hardships for families. I am thankful it will be 72 next week. It’s better than staying at 64 hours,” Bermudes told Saipan Tribune in an interview at the American Memorial Park yesterday.

Bermudes said he has been “serving the people for 23 years,” and having work hour cuts for almost two years is just hard to bear. But he said at least he still has a job.

To cope with work hour reductions and cut utility bills, his family limits the use of their air conditioner from eight hours to two hours every night. They also reduced their vehicle use to save gas, whose prices have skyrocketed in recent years.

Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), in a separate interview, said it’s welcome news that government employees will now have 72 hours work biweekly but he said the government should continue to streamline its operations, including not filling vacant positions “for political reasons.”

“Two years ago, we had a government shutdown because the Senate had the belief that we need to streamline the government but [we must] begin with the ‘all others’ or operations, and not take from the pocket of government employees,” he said.

Inos said the government has $900,000 to $1 million to cover the additional eight work hours biweekly starting next week.

Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee chair Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota) said her committee will ensure 80 hours will be restored in fiscal year 2013. The committee is reviewing the 2013 budget bill, which the Senate will act on during its session on Wednesday.