Govt introduces new electronic payment system

 The government has introduced electronic system of paying salaries for public servants in a move to end complaints of arrears.

 

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (pictured) disclosed this over the weekend when speaking to civil servants in Meatu District, Simiyu Region.

 

The Prime Minister said the system known as LAWSON, applies to all civil servants in the country both in the central and local government.

 

He said the system helps to keep, send and streamline servants’ reports on time and efficiently, from the day they are hired, when one promoted and until retirement.

 

Before the introduction of the system, ministry officials used to collect information of all staff employed by the office of the president to be forwarded to Public Service Management for certification before referring them to treasury for payroll preparation

 

Citing teachers as an example, the prime minister said they were employed through the Teachers Service Department (TSD) but must go to report to the District Executive Director (DED) who is the employer under local government.  “This caused difficulties in making payments,” he said.

 

“Now we have the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which falls under the District Executive Director. Therefore it is easy for them to be paid without delays,” he said.

 

He said the system started effectively in 2012 and started for the new employment and so far it has proved that it is possible to pay servant salary even if the servant is employed within the same month.

 

“If an employee is reporting on a new working station, it does not matter which district as long as he/she arrived with all his/her correct documents, at the same time his/her particulars will be seen in the President’s Management Public Service and also will be received by officials who deals with salaries at the Treasury.”

He said the only challenge they faced when the new system started was excluded reports of those who report after the 10th of the respective month. 

 

“This is because the preparation of salaries would have started. So many were advised to report between the 25th to the 9th of the following month and all these would not have had problems with their wages,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN