SOUTH AFRICA
The South African Public Servants Association (PSA) says it wants answers over apparently contradictory reports by Minister of Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu (pictured) regarding the Government’s wage bill.
The Government is trying to cut its Public Service wage bill and is now offering early retirement to 30,000 workers.
Mr Mchunu said billions of rand could be saved through early retirements and consultations were being undertaken on other ways the Government could trim the fat.
However, he said the jobs of PS employees were safe “for now”.
The PSA said Mr Mchunu was either misled or intentionally creating the perception that consultations were indeed taking place to cause mistrust between unions and their members.
The workers’ association also said it was a contradictory statement that money would be saved by granting early retirement packages for employees aged between 55 and 59, while new jobs had been promised to hopeful youths who wanted to pursue a career in the Public Service.
The PSA said the Government was clearly busy with a retrenchment exercise without following due process.
It said it had already lodged a dispute to ensure the process was stopped and aligned to the provisions of the Labour Relations Act.
The PSA further called on Mr Mchunu to refrain from making disturbing statements that did not contribute to sound labour relations and revert to the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council to ensure proper consultation took place in line with the provisions of legislation.
Pretoria, 18 July 2019
