On the sixth day they rested, and on the seventh
UNIONS representing home affairs staff are threatening to strike unless the department reverses its decision to rearrange their working hours. The department says it wants to improve service to the client.
It argues that, like banks, supermarkets, hospitals, police stations and other places of service, its operations must be designed to meet the needs of the client.
So the director-general, Mkuseli Apleni, announced last week that officials would work two Saturdays a month and start work half an hour earlier each day. There would also be a another shift, which starts later and would ensure the offices stay open longer.
He argues that this does not constitute extra hours for the employee but would still be a 40-hour week, in a rearranged format. This has caused an outcry, compounded by the fractious wage negotiations.
Unions want 15%, the government is offering 5%.
In a radio interview with Apleni and Reuben Maleka of the Public Servants Association, which represents more than 6 000 employees at the department, it is clear that the two sides are so far apart that they might as well be separated by the ocean.
Unions say their members will incur additional costs for childcare and transport. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, which also represents workers in this sector, argues that its members have cultural and religious obligations on Saturdays. Both unions accuse the directorgeneral of unilaterally implementing these new measures. The directorgeneral insists that the new operating times are not illegal, as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act states that employees can be required to work six days a week, provided they do not work more than the stipulated 45 hours a week.
Workers do not want to work on weekends, unless it is regarded as overtime and not part of a normal working week. The general sense I got from the audience is that they support the department and argue that workers in many sectors do work on weekends and that two Saturdays a month is not unreasonable.
The Department of Home Affairs is not always popular. It services millions of South Africans and foreigners. It is no wonder complaints about lethargic service and incompetence have dogged the department over the years. From conversations with foreigners, it does seem that home offices in many countries are despised for the bureaucracy and slow processing of documents.
A visit to a home affairs office is not fun. Due to the queues, poor signage, voluminous forms and staff who almost always seem to be angry, most of us would rather avoid any encounter with a home affairs office.
In fairness, it is a thankless job, because for every satisfied citizen there is another who is at her wits’ end because the passport hasn’t arrived on time, details have been captured incorrectly or the queues are just too long.
But my observations are that there are more compliments for home affairs than there were previously.
My professional and personal observations are that things have improved, but we could do better. On radio, I am receiving fewer complaints about home affairs than was the case several years ago.
In fact, some listeners are writing to us and calling about improved service, especially at the Randburg office. They are particularly impressed with the director-general, who has put his cellphone number on the notice board.
At a personal level, I have used that office several times in the past five years and I was supremely impressed.
But problems abound. How do we solve them? It starts with strong leadership and a motivated workforce. Unions cannot call the shots. They must be flexible and realise that the nature of the service and the business needs have changed and the department’s operations must adjust accordingly. Labour rights are guaranteed by the constitution. Unions have legal avenues if the employer is breaking the law. So far, they have not demonstrated that this is the case. Comment on this: write to tellus@sundaytimes.co.za or SMS us at 33971 www.timeslive.co.za