Guma calls for review of salaries for all
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday February 12, 2015 12:40
The legislator made the call in response to budget proposals by the ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Minister, Eric Molale’s in Parliament on Tuesday.
“It is not only MPs who are not well-paid. I am requesting the government to make a total review of pay structures and conditions of service for all workers. I share the same sentiments with members here that they are underpaid, but the government should not only review MPs salaries and their conditions of service,” Guma said.
He said it is important that a panel of experts is set up to review pay structures.
Guma stressed that some workers, especially in the private sector get as little as P1,000 from which amount the individual would be expected to pay rent and transport. “This is the reason why some end up stealing or owing the companies they work for. We should not sit down and let our people be underpaid. I strongly believe something needs to be done with our pay structures and conditions of service. It’s only us who can advocate for our people before our salaries are looked into,” Guma said.
Guma said people could perform better if they were paid properly. He said the gap between and the rich in the country is growing bigger year after year.
For the MPs, Guma said the situation is very terrible because some former MPs and Ministers find themselves languishing in poverty after leaving Parliament.
“It pains us a lot to see former Ministers and MPs being poor. These people have contributed immensely for our country. But the state that they are in now really hurts”.
Another MP, Konstatinos Markus said the National Assembly would also end up attracting MPs who are of low standard because of the salaries they get. “I don’t think in 10 years time, people will leave their well paying jobs to become MPs. Even the package that the MPs are getting after five years is very little. People out there think MPs are getting a lot of money, and that is why they always need assistance from them,” Markus said.
He also shared same sentiments with Guma that there is need for total review of pay structures and conditions of service.