Gov�t secretaries want �unfair� scheme out

Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday December 20, 2016 16:06

In a proposed draft settlement agreement, the government says it will review the 2015 Competency Based Career Path (CBCP) following the employees’ unhappiness about it and promise to regularly consult in the process of the review.

“DPSM will review and correct Directive No.1 of 2015. The secretaries will be consulted in the process of the review. The review and the correction of the scheme of service shall be done within six months from the date of the order,” reads the draft settlement agreement. The secretaries on the other hand who are unhappy about the scheme, which they say was done without consultation and was a breach of the existing conditions of service wants it suspended from being used. They want the scheme faced out while meaningful discussions that will lead to amicable settlement are carried out. In one of their proposals, the secretaries had proposed among others that the CBCP be set aside, government set up a task force to develop a new and workable scheme of service for the general secretarial cadre. “Since the cadre is a single entity and generic to all ministries and departments, the task force should be made up of the representatives selected from central government, tribal administration and the local government,” reads the proposal.

Following the setting up of a task force, the secretaries want the team to examine and analyse the draft of the scheme of service consolidated and submitted by the National Coordinating Committee of secretaries together with the recommendations.

“The task force makes any other relevant recommendations within the existing government policies and best practices. In the premise, the secretarial cadre be reverted to Directive No.1 of 2007 scheme for the secretarial cadre and that those who were promoted in line with the provisions of the CBCP for secretarial and office management retain salary as personal right,” reads the proposal.

The secretaries have not been happy with their employer over the CBCP scheme that they allege is unfair because it favoured some over others.

Since its introduction, they have been fighting for a judicial review on the status of their employment.

Meanwhile, both parties are to meet regarding the proposed draft settlement agreement and will appear in court early next year for a status hearing.