Disaster relief volunteers whose services are needed in times of crisis, will soon be the new exception in the “no work, no pay” rule.
However, according to Consultant Legislative Drafter, John Elue Charles, such situations must not exceed 10 days and must be verified and done properly.
Addressing the final consultation on the draft disaster management legislation, at the Office of Disaster Management last week, Charles said that there are now inroads that will address such situations when the need arises. “Statues have made inroads into that general principle and there are a number of exceptions,” he stated.
The law makes provision for employees, when they are sick, to bring in a medical certificate and get paid by social security and employers and the same applies for various other situations such as representing the country in sports and culture, among others.
“We are saying, persons who give their time during disaster or emergencies, we believe that it is of such national significance and importance, that it is worthy of being another exception to the general principle of no work, no pay and therefore, we are putting appropriate safe guards and guidelines,” Charles stated.
He was quick to point out, however, that “You don’t just say, I was there helping disaster. No, there will be appropriate safeguards. You have to have a letter from the director, certified and signed, verifying that you actually participated so you are exempted and you are not fired, or (told) you abandon your work. No disciplinary action is taken against you; you get your pay.”
He said volunteers must be mindful that whilst government may be able to accommodate their absence from work for two weeks, the private sector may have certain concerns about that. “So there is a cap…the person cannot just stay out for so long, no more than 10 days. So we do have this factor there,” Charles pointed out.
He added that it would be necessary for the sake of coordination and to allow the business person to plan ahead, for disaster volunteers to inform their prospective employers of their commitment early.
Meanwhile, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, Don Corriette, said the consultation period has been going on for close to three months and last week’s final consultation was to double check everything and make sure that all is in order.
“This consultation period has been on the cards for the last two and a half months, going on to three months. We have gone through the document more than once, we have ironed out the contentious issues, and this process this morning is just to go over the document again, and to make sure that all the I’s are dotted and all the t’s are crossed. And if you have any last minute issues or observations that you would want us to address.”
He noted that from there, the document has to go to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security, then to the Ministry of Legal Affairs and hopefully, it will be completed and made parliamentary ready.
The draft disaster management legislation will provide guidelines for various areas, including geothermal, quarrying, asphalt plants, how information is disseminated by both the media and those in authority and how it is received by the populace, and disaster relief, among others.
I was trained as a first responder in California I will be coming home for good in the near future, I would like to be on the volunteer list I will do it for free how to I register?
how come allyou comments are so slow in coming, let me think there is no mapwee to be said.
Guess that they waiting for the ground to shake and or the wind to blow one or two galvanize – then you will start to see valie comments; Dominicans are so what I do know.