Nena Proposed Sea Duty Differentials Legislation

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Nena Proposed Sea Duty Differentials Legislation

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): May 6, 1998 – President Jacob
Nena is proposing to Congress to establish a sea duty differential
pay for the patrol boat personnel, the Maritime Wing of the FSM
National Police, in an April 21^st communication to Congress Speaker
Jack Fritz transmitting a draft bill for consideration by the
Congress.

Under the current arrangement, with elimination of overtime
differential for Public Service employees which encompass the
patrol boat personnel, they are entitled to compensatory time
instead.

During several weeks at sea, many hours of compensatory time
are accumulated which later are converted to annual leave when
taken by patrol boat personnel when the boat is in port. This
affects adversely the efficiency and effectiveness of the boat
maintenance program. Additionally, less time was available for
boats to spent at sea as personnel are trying to exhaust their
accumulated leave hours.

“An employee of the Maritime Wing of the National Police
shall be paid his adjusted base salary for all hours actually
worked, up to but not in excess of eight hours per day, in any
day or fraction thereof, including the sixth and seventh day
of the work week, that he is on duty at sea,” said Nena.

“No compensation, regular or overtime, no differential
of any sort, and no compensatory time shall be due for any additional
hours worked in any such day, regardless of how many hours the
employee was actually required to work in that day,” Nena
added.

Hours actually worked while at sea, up to but not excess of
eight hours per day, shall count as straight time for the purpose
of determining compensatory time, if any, in a work seek spent
partially at sea and partially not at sea.

The holiday differential shall apply in lieu of the sea duty
differential while at sea on holiday.

The hazardous work differential shall apply in addition to
the sea duty differential while at sea, provided that being at
sea does not and of itself constitute hazardous work.

“Typhoon emergency differential shall not apply while
at sea,” Nena said.

The current system has resulted both in reduced morale and
less time at sea. The entire patrol program has suffered, Nena
reiterated.

With an optimistic anticipation for a favorable action of
Congress, the administration has taken the liberty of including
in the FY 1999 proposed budget an amount estimated to cover additional
costs of the proposed changes in the law, Nena concluded.