Tshering Pemo, 29, a private employee, begins her day at 9 o’ clock like everyone else. She works for more than 48 hours in a week. But, she doesn’t mind the long working hours as she is paid for her overtime working hours.
“I actually have to work from 9 in the morning till 6 in the evening on a daily basis. But sometimes I have to work overtime. I do get paid Nu. 25 per hour for working over time,” she says.
There are many like her who work overtime. According to the 11th National Labour Force Survey, more than 50 percent of employed Bhutanese work overtime.
Overtime is a common practice in private and corporate firms with anyone irrespective of their position allowed to work overtime. In the civil service, however, not everyone is allowed to work overtime. It’s only the employees who are at a supervisory level or below who are allowed to work overtime.
|
|
|---|
In terms of overtime payment, it depends on one’s salary.
The officiating division chief of labour relations under the ministry, Ngawang Norbu, explains: “The rate per hour is being divided. Suppose, if you get around Nu.100 per day, the amount would be divided by the minimum number of working hours, that is 8 hours. And then it comes to a certain fraction, say like 12 points, then if you happen to do overtime so your normal overtime rate would be your normal working hour’s rate.”
This is if an employee works overtime till 10 pm. However, if the employee works overtime between 10 pm to 8 am, he or she is entitled to a payment of 50 percent more.
There is also a limit to the number of overtime hours. The Labour and Employment Act 2007 states an employee can undertake a maximum of 12 hours of overtime in a week.
The ministry monitors if the Act is followed and also whether the overtime payments are made in time and according to the Act.
The complaints related to overtime payment has reduced drastically over the years, according to the ministry. From about 120 complaints in a year a few years ago, the ministry today receives only about 30 cases in a year. The drop in the complaints is being attributed to Bhutanese workers becoming increasingly aware of their rights.
The ministry says dispute related to overtime payment is usually solved by the employers and employees, reaching a consensus.
