As a volunteer at one of the health centres in the country, I take pride in my line of duty by helping the government through the Ministry of Health in the fight against COVID-19.
The announcement made by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during a special titah delivered on April 14, 2020 on providing a BND400 monthly allowance for healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic came as a huge blessing and a true form of acknowledgement on the role of critical workers.
However, it is disappointing to learn that volunteers like us have not been receiving the amount.
As a registered volunteer since the start of the second wave, I have been receiving a monthly allowance ranging from a low of BND280 to the highest amount of BND320. It would be fair if we were to get any form of explanation for the reason behind the inconsistency.
To make matters worse, the amount would vary among each of the volunteers even when everyone is doing the same fair share of work.
It would even get to a point where tension would arise when one starts to compare how much they earn with the other.
A fellow volunteer, who was assigned by a local job provider to be stationed at one of the medical facilities, even claimed that she has not received one single payment since August.
As volunteers, we know that we have signed up for this job on our own will and to not expect any form of incentives in return, but we are also entitled to claim our rights for the monthly allowance in accordance to His Majesty’s titah.
Curious Volunteer
