PM Douglas Addressing The National Assembly
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 13, 2012 (CUOPM)
A commitment to extend pension coverage to Government Auxiliary Employees is one step further to becoming a reality.
Legislation to streamline and coordinate the appointment, terms and conditions of employment, discipline and dismissal of Government Auxiliary Employees, formerly known as Non-Established Workers, has been introduced and given its first reading in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly.
The Government Auxiliary Employees Bill, 2012, which stands in the name of Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, also seeks to establish the Government Auxiliary Employees’ Commission.
The word “Government Auxiliary Employee” is defined as a person who is employed by the Government on a week to week or month to month basis and whose wage or salary is paid from or out of a (Government Auxiliary Employees) vote in the official Estimates of St. Christopher and Nevis, other than a Personal Emoluments Vote.
Clause 3 of the Bill seeks to make provision in relation to the category of persons to whom the Bill will apply. In that connection, the Clause seeks to provide that the Bill will apply to a person who is employed in Government employment at the coming into force of this Act; was employed in Government employment within six months before or after the coming into force of this Act and continues to be employed after the coming into force of this Act or is first employed in Government employment after the coming into force of this Act.
Clause 4 of the Bill seeks to establish a Commission to be known as the Government Auxiliary Employees Commission.
The Clause makes provision for membership of the Commission, appointment of members of the Commission, their removal from office and other related matters.
Clause 5 of the Bill seeks to provide for the functions of the Commission, while Clause 6 seeks to make provision relating to the procedure that is to be followed in recruiting, disciplining, suspending and dismissing Government Auxiliary Employees.
Clause 7 seeks to make provision for the extension of pension plan to Government Auxiliary Employees, while Clause 8 seeks to make provision that empowers the Minister to make regulations generally in order to give effect to the provisions of the Act.