Khama�s salary hike irks BOFEPUSU

Oarabile Mosikare | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:43

 

“It would be very unfortunate if His Excellency made an unilateral announcement during his Kgotla meeting. He has totally disregarded the rule of law. Salary negotiations are a purview of the bargaining council. He can’t usurp the powers of the council,” BOFEPUSU secretary general Tobokani Rari has asserted. 

On Tuesday, state-owned Radio Botswana announced that Khama told the Kgotla meeting on Monday that civil servants would get a four percent salary increment effective next month. The statement has enraged BOFEPUSU, with Rari saying that they heard it through the grapevine. “We have not seen any directive from the employer,” he said. He stated that the 2014-2015 salary negotiations have not been discussed at the Public Sector Bargaining Council (PSBC). He said the federation tabled its 2014-2015 proposals last week Tuesday and so far no discussions or negotiations have taken place.

The federation boss added that the President is setting a bad precedent by usurping the powers of the PSBC. He advised Khama to emulate the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Edwin Batshu, who does not want the rule of law to be disregarded.

Recently, Batshu reprimanded the Director of Public Service Management (DPSM) Carter Morupisi for disregarding the mediation process with BOFEPUSU.

“We would like to commend Batshu for having protected the rule of law,” Rari said.

Early this month, BOFEPUSU lodged a dispute before the Commissioner of Labour after the government declared a deadlock on the 2013-2014 public service salary negotiations.