The UHM Voice of the Workers said in a statement Friday that the new Public Service disciplinary regulations do not address serious issues that have persisted for many years.

“This is despite the UHM persistently insisting on the necessary amendments,” it said.

The union said that one of the key amendments that were made is that public officials should be suspended with half of their basic pay when under investigation or facing a criminal process.

The UHM said that through the fundamental principle of justice, where a person remains innocent until proven guilty, it has consistently stressed that the discipline process should ensure that an individual is suspended with a full salary, including all fixed allowances, and that these payments are made regularly with each salary.

“This point has been raised in various forums, including in explanations of the new discipline regulations, in various Budget proposals over the years, as well as during a meeting where the UHM expressed its reaction to the revision of these regulations,” it said.

It continued that the amendments made to the Public Service discipline regulations, published on 1 October, have not addressed this point, to the extent that they stipulate that an employee who is suspended should receive 80% of their basic pay, and in none of these cases should this be less than the minimum wage.

“The UHM is not ruling out taking further action to rectify this injustice, especially after the government ignored the UHM's proposal to respect the principle that a person remains innocent until proven guilty,” it said.