DPP admin staff on sick out

Administrative workers at the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions are on a sick out.

The employees, including secretaries and clerks, stayed off the job today to press the authorities for an improvement in their terms of employment.

The workers say they want their posts to be reclassified with increased wages and benefits.

They lament that for more than a year, they have been assigned tasks outside their job descriptions without any additional compensation or resources.

The workers expressed frustration about working in a closed room without a functioning air-conditioning unit.

A senior officer says recommendations have been made to Ministry of Justice about fixing the problems.

It is reported that the concerns were forwarded to the Finance Ministry.

But the senior officer says no action has been taken.

She pointed out that the Office of the DPP has no control over its budget and has to depend on the Finance Ministry.

The DPP, Paula Llewellyn, says she is aware of the situation but declined to comment further.

The workers say they are prepared to continue their industrial action until their concerns are addressed.

There is concern that if the action continues the work of prosecutors would be affected.

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