Simione Tuvuki 
The Suva City Council has hoisted a red-flag on overtime for workers as it would range from $1.5 to $2 million annually as identified through their audit.
It was revealed by SCC Special Administrators Chair Tevita Boseiwaqa at the hearing of SCC’s Annual Reports 2016-2018 with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs today.
Earlier this year, a few workers expressed grievances on the halt in payment of their overtime, calling for the administration to step-down or consider a strike, after which the release of their overtime was approved by SCC.
FBC News understands that the issue still lingers between the workers and SCC.
Boseiwaqa says they have identified that in their Health and Works Departments under its Depot Section, one of them incurred over $240,000 from August 2023 to June 2024.
“What has been found in just one section, one section, depot, there are two depots. One is work and the other one is health. One of them incurred about $240,000 plus in the last fiscal year up to June when it’s analyzed.”
SCC Special Administrators Chair Tevita Boseiwaqa
Boseiwaqa says they have also identified a lot of encashment of leave for workers, from annual leave to long-service leave, which has to be audited as it is another area that they have to clean and clear up.
He says they are trying to implement measures to control overtime and leave for workers, as it is one of the Special Administrators’ responsibilities to ensure that funds are utilized and managed well.
The Suva City Council states they are determined to achieve their goal, and they will not allow their challenges to stop them from ensuring safety and security in the City of Suva.
