Interpretation
"cover duty”

Performance of duties of another position by an officer in addition to performing own duties for a period approved by the relevant Approving Authority.

1. Performing the duties of the position incurred for 28 consecutive days including weekly holidays, public holidays and also annual leave for emergency reasons as well as sick leave on a cumulative basis not exceeding 5 working days;
   
   
2. An officer who is in charge of work but subsequently leaves the duties of the position covered for 14 consecutive days or more, which includes weekly holidays and public holidays, then the payment of Cover Duty Allowance must be stopped;
   
   
3. A person who has been approved to cover the duty and then approved to cover the duty of the same position may be paid the Cover Duty Allowance if the second and subsequent cover duty periods are not less than 14 consecutive days including weekly holidays and public holidays; and
   
   
4. If the officer who is covering the duties is eligible for Overtime Payment, the payment can only be paid for tasks performed after 2 hours and 15 minutes of office working time.

Section PO.1.1.6 Public Service Cover of Duty Regulations

1. Cover Duty Order
2. Checklist For Cover Duty
3. Certificate Of Cover Duty

Cover Duty Allowance = Starting salary of the position covered × 25%

1. The duties can be carried out if:
   1. • There are operational or substantive vacancies; and
      • The duties of the vacant position must be carried out continuously so that the organisation's functions are not affected.

2. The directive for the officer to cover a post must be made in writing by the Head of Department.

3. The duration of the work must not exceedsix (6) months. If necessary, the Head of Department shall reapply to the Approving Authority so that the officer is approved to continue to cover the duties.

4. The effective date of covering should be from the date on which the officer performs the covering duties and starts with a working day. If the cover of duty period ends on weekends and public holidays, the period may be included in the Covering Allowance.

5. The Head of Department can certify to the Approving Authority to terminate the covering of duties of an officer or instruct another officer to undertake the work if he deems it necessary, for example, if he is not satisfied with the performance of the officer undertaking the work.

6. If the duties covered by an officer interrupted for fourteen (14) days or more,the Head of Department must make new verification to the Approving Authority either to continue the covering period of the officer in question or to certify another officer.

Eligible Officers

1. Officers who have been confirmed in service;

2. In the absence of a certified officer in service, an officer who has served for at least one year may be certified; and

3. Priority for covering duties should be given to the most qualified officer in terms of experience, qualifications, skills, expertise and good performance.

Authorised positions

1. The position created is either in Estimated Operating Expenditureor Warrant of Employment.

2. The duties to be carried out must not skip two (2) higher grades and the area of responsibilities of the officer that is bearing the duty is not too complex  compared to the substantive abilities and grades of the officers who are certified to cover the duties. A higher-ranking officer may be certified to cover the duties of lower grades, with the condition that the duty to be performed does not involve supervisory and supervisee relationships. The Head of Department when considering for covering duties should take into account the "reasonableness” and "burden of responsibility” factors of the duty to be covered.
   
   
3. The position of the duties to be covered should be in the same organisational structure and location. However, in certain circumstances, if the organisation is in a different location but within 25km,a special verification      from the Head of Department is required on the verification of the duties taking into account the need and effectiveness of implementing the duties on a cover duty basis.