THE row between the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and airlines regarding unpaid overtime of airport Customs employees may finally be settled at the start of next year.
Customs commissioner Angelito Alvarez said a meeting with the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) is being scheduled at month’s end to determine the number of months of overtime pay airlines will have to shoulder.
Estimates place the overtime backlog at about P10 million a month involving 400 employees stationed at the arrival and departure areas as well as collection export and aircraft operation divisions. BAR, however, is questioning the amount, saying airlines are being overcharged.
"With regard to the overtime backlog, we are talking of at least 16 months but we agreed that they (airlines) first pay the first five months and convene a technical working group to determine possible areas of dispute that could reduce the length of the backlog," Alvarez said.
Earlier, he said Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista has already agreed to pay the airline’s share of P30 million for the airport workers’ overtime pay.
Customs personnel have threatened to stop work beyond 5 pm following the airlines’ refusal to pay for their previous overtime.
In the meantime, the BOC is looking at hiring 78 new staff to ensure there is no disruption of airport customs services at a time when passenger and cargo volumes are high. The 78 will work on the third shift so overtime fees will no longer be paid existing workers.
