Parley passes 4% salary increament
Gothataone Moeng | Monday April 14, 2014 15:36
The bills were passed to effect a decision made by President Ian Khama to increase salaries of non-unionised members, a decision slammed by critics as divisive of the civil service.
After extending Parliament business for two hours to deal with the bills, which were presented to the House on a matter of urgency, MPs passed the Specified Officers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi (Salaries and Allowances) Act, the National Assembly (Salaries and Allowances) Act and the Judges Miscellaneous Provisions Act to allow for the implementation of the decision to increase salaries of the affected officers, with effect from April 1, 2014.
The Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Shaw Kgathi, presented the Specified Officers, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and National Assembly amendment bills, while Dikgakgamatso Seretse, Minister for Defence, Justice and Security presented the Judges Miscellaneous Provisions Bill.
The amendment bills were brought to the house as a matter of urgency on Thursday, a day before Parliament was scheduled to adjourn, and necessitated an extension of hours of business in order to pass the bills in time to effect the increases by month end. On Thursday, opposition MPs condemned the amendment, arguing that it was in bad taste to effect a salary increase when unionised employees are still embroiled in negotiations, but on Friday Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) MPs unanimously passed the bills following a mass walkout of opposition MPs.
Meanwhile, Kgathi evaded informing Parliament about the issues beleaguering the Public Service Bargaining Council, following a question by Shoshong MP Philip Makgalemele during ministers’ question time.
Kgathi said the issues around the bargaining council could be prejudicial to a court case between the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) and government over salary negotiations.
By the same argument, an urgent motion requesting Parliament to stop the effecting of a decision by President Khama to increase unionised workers by four percent, was postponed.
The motion was scheduled to be presented by Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi following his presentation of a petition to Parliament on Thursday, in which the unions argued that Khama’s decision is illegal and undermines the process of collective bargaining.