Several government employees, whose salaries are paid by local revenues, are now exempt from the reduction of working hours policy, and are returning to a full 80-hour pay period.

At a meeting last Thursday at the Fono Guest Fale, where the ASG Revenue Task Force made  a presentation to several lawmakers on proposed revenue measures to be sent to the Fono for approval, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga revealed that he has given approval for employees making $30,000 or less a year to return to the full 80-hour pay period.

The reduction in working hours from 80 to 70 hours per pay period went into effect in mid April this year. Those exempted from the policy, include medical professionals, classroom instructors, and contract workers.

However, employees whose salaries are paid by federal funds, were added early last month to the list of exempted employees.

During a cabinet meeting three weeks ago, the governor reiterated that he and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga will review the policy at the end of the third quarter — which was June 30th — and make adjustments if necessary to the reduction in work hours.

In a July 5th memo, Human Resources Department director Eseneiaso J. Liu informed cabinet members of executive departments and offices that the Governor has authorized ASG employees earning $20,000.01 — $30,000 annually to return to 80 hours of work in pay period #15 (the next ASG pay period which is this week).

The memo also revealed that the government has already rolled back the reduction of hours for employees earning $20,000 annually or less. Liu reminded directors that these employees have been authorized by the governor to return to a full 80-hours of work in pay period #14.

Liu requested cabinet directors to inform supervisors to adjust the work schedules for these specific employees accordingly. Time keepers and personnel managers were also requested to be informed of this new directive so that “timecard submissions for the upcoming pay periods accurately reflect the adjustments in permissible work hours,” Liu said.

“We invite you to express our sincere appreciation to your employees for their patience and diligence as we work through these challenging times,” she concluded.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the reduction in hours includes all cabinet directors and both the governor and lieutenant governor opted to join this policy. Salaries of cabinet directors along with other political appointees are set by the governor, while the salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor are set by law. Samoa News notes that it looks like these salaries are still on the reduced hours work schedule, with only those earning up to $30,000 annually and less, now back on an 80-hour per payroll schedule.