Wage dispute

THE government is heading for a collision course with public sector unions after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during his 2022 mediumterm budget policy statement (MTBPS) in Parliament that their 7.5% offer for the wage increases would be implemented.

Godongwana said the offer entailed the continuation of a non-pensionable R1 000 cash allowance until March 2023 and a pensionable 3% salary increase.

The National Treasury has allocated R43.6 billion in compensation of employees over the 2023 mediumterm expenditure framework. Asked if the unilateral implementation of the government offer would not lead to a strike, he said the Department of Public Service and Administration would invoke section 5 of the Public Service Act. |