LATVIA: paying overtime job

During the last several years the Ministry of Interior did not pay overtime for the officials of IeM system?s establishments and Imprisonment Places Administration?s. The debit amount reached several millions. On September 26 The Cabinet of Ministers supported the Regulations prepared by the Ministry of Interior (IeM) on payment procedure for overtime work and its amount for the officials of IeM system?s establishments and Imprisonment Places Administration?s (IPA) official with the special service rank. The Regulations provide that the official, who has fixed normal weekly working hours, shall be paid for overtime per each calendar month according to the records of timesheet. Whereas the person, who has summed working hours, shall be paid for overtime per each worked four calendar months according to the records of time sheet for four calendar months. The new Regulations came into force on October 1, 2006. Increase of salary for officials by paying overtime job will ensure higher social justice. The currently existing social pressure will decrease, which is caused by the fact that the amount of salary fixed for officials is not adequate to the level of liability of performed work, the workload, complexity, the fact that the officials are involved in overtime job without receiving respective remuneration for this work. Also the material security level of officials will increase. As a result, also the operating results of respective establishments will improve. So far the special laws, as well as the State Civil Service Law did not clearly prescribe the payment terms for overtime job of IeM system establishments? and IPA officials with special service ranks. Meanwhile, officials are involved in overtime job by granting free days after the job, which were not provided in legislative enactments. The issue about granting additional resources from the national budget for enforcement of the draft Regulations shall be considered during the preparation and review process of the Cabinet of Ministers draft law ?Amendments to the law On the national budget for the year 2006?, as well as the budget for 2007 and next years simultaneously with the budget priority proposals of all ministries.