THA `clerical reliefs’

"Taken from our P O L I T I C S section."

The status of persons employed as “Clerical Reliefs” within the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is soon to be regularised. In the interim these employees will enjoy the benefits of the terms and conditions that apply to persons employed in the position of Clerk 1.

That was the word from THA Chief Secretary Orville London as he gave an update on the long-standing contentious issue at Thursday’s regular weekly post-Executive Council meeting press briefing. Responding to a Sunday Newsday query, London said that in arriving at this decision the Assembly had the benefit of legal advice on the matter.

The affected workers fall within the category of public servants and are under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission (PSC), but in this case, London explained, the responsibility for regularising the situation lies with Cabinet.

Outlining the genesis of the whole matter, London told Sunday Newsday: “About ten years or so ago, there would have been a situation where there was work to be done and these persons were taken on, they had the relevant qualification, but because the positions were not available they were classified as ‘Clerical Relief’ and therefore performed as Clerks.

“But it was not a situation where they replaced (anyone) or they acted in positions that already existed; they were additional to the (work) establishment (list). It’s almost like contract officers before contract became the norm; and they operated like that”, he explained. But the situation proved disadvantageous for these “clerical reliefs”, in that while they perform the duties of a Clerk 1, they are not entitled to the benefits of the terms/conditions of such a position, including leave and other perks.