RDCs’ drivers demand better pay
Sep 16, 2010
OVER 80% of the drivers employed by resident district commissioners (RDCs) are not on the Government payroll.
By Dismus Buregyeya
OVER 80% of the drivers employed by resident district commissioners (RDCs) are not on the Government payroll.
The drivers have petitioned the senior officer in charge of RDCs in the Office of the President, Hajji Muhammad Mayanja, demanding to be included on the payroll.
In a meeting held at Hotel Brovad in Masaka recently, the drivers said they do not get salaries.
“We only survive on allowances from workshops where the RDCs have been invited. Many of us do not have appointment letters, which means we are driving State House vehicles illegally,†the drivers said in a memo of September 14, which was signed by their chairman, Patrick Obote.
“We have families and other needs to meet, including paying school fees, rent and health care,†the memo read.
The drivers also demanded a salary increment. “The sh150,000 we get is not enough. We should at least get a minimum of sh300,000,†they noted.
However, Mayanja said the drivers’ concerns had been forwarded to the public service ministry for redress.
“It is true most of the drivers are not on government payroll, but the public service ministry is in the final stages of rectifying the problem,†he said.
Mayanja said the delay in being recognised was due to inadequate vehicles. “Since the Government has procured vehicles for all the RDCs and their deputies, the drivers will soon get onto the payroll,†he said.
OVER 80% of the drivers employed by resident district commissioners (RDCs) are not on the Government payroll.
The drivers have petitioned the senior officer in charge of RDCs in the Office of the President, Hajji Muhammad Mayanja, demanding to be included on the payroll.
In a meeting held at Hotel Brovad in Masaka recently, the drivers said they do not get salaries.
“We only survive on allowances from workshops where the RDCs have been invited. Many of us do not have appointment letters, which means we are driving State House vehicles illegally,†the drivers said in a memo of September 14, which was signed by their chairman, Patrick Obote.
“We have families and other needs to meet, including paying school fees, rent and health care,†the memo read.
The drivers also demanded a salary increment. “The sh150,000 we get is not enough. We should at least get a minimum of sh300,000,†they noted.
However, Mayanja said the drivers’ concerns had been forwarded to the public service ministry for redress.
“It is true most of the drivers are not on government payroll, but the public service ministry is in the final stages of rectifying the problem,†he said.
Mayanja said the delay in being recognised was due to inadequate vehicles. “Since the Government has procured vehicles for all the RDCs and their deputies, the drivers will soon get onto the payroll,†he said.