Civil servants� wages back on the table
Isaiah Morewagae | Friday May 16, 2014 17:39
The fresh talks come after President Ian Khama announced a four percent across the board wage increase for civil servants on April 6, saying the increase, while unilateral, was necessary to adhere to government’s financial year. While Khama said negotiations within the Council would continue, unions led by BOFEPUSU went to court and lost, arguing that the increase effectively disposed of the Council’s statutory mandate.
Yesterday, Director of Public Service Management Carter Morupisi pointed out that the Council was now operational with eight employer representatives and their alternate members representing government.
“As we speak, the Council has finalised the rules of engagement for public service negotiations on salaries and conditions of service for the 2014/2015 financial year,” Morupisi told journalists.
“Let me point out that as much as the relationship between government and unions has been characterised by hostility and non-cooperation, especially in the media, we must take cognisance that as a new body the Council will have teething problems.
“We are however optimistic that this is something we shall overcome to create a harmonious working environment for every public service employee.”
While Morupisi signalled that government was willing to negotiate, figures he shared with the media pointed towards little room being given by the employer in the Council. According to Morupisi’s figures, the civil service grew by 2,065 jobs in 2014/15 to 129,947 squeezing the chances of a meaningful increment.
In 2013/14 at 127,882 workers, the civil service wage bill was pegged at P14.2 billion meaning this year’s four percent across the board increase will push it to P14.8 billion or nearly half of forecast recurrent expenditure of P33.32 billion.
Morupisi said the wage freeze seen in 2013/14 was necessary to avoid lay-offs in the public service.
He said the four percent given to public servants last month was done with the considered view that it does not stretch government’s coffers.
“This minimal increase was a decision taken by government to limit the wage bill,” he said.
The director further noted challenges in creating a harmonious working relationship within the public service, as revealed by the number of disputes recorded through the Public Service Commission.
“This is shown by the increasing backlog of cases between 2011 and early 2014, where in 2011 we had 163 outstanding cases, a figure which had increased to 232 cases of backlogged cases in early March,” Morupisi said.
“The Commission’s main challenges include non-attendance of affected parties, such as ministry officials, legal representatives as well as appellants themselves.”
Morupisi stressed that this lack of attendance leads to a rescheduling of appeals and delays in resolving cases.
He however, said the Commission has resolved cases from six to 13 per sitting to reduce the backlog.