South Africa money

Public sector employees in South Africa are to receive a pay increase of up to 7.7%, following the conclusion of wage negotiations between trade unions and the government at the end of last week.

The pay rises, which will be backdated from 1 April 2018, will see public sector employees in pay band one receive a pay increase of 7.7%, staff in pay bands eight to 10 will be awarded a 6.5% pay rise and employees in pay bands 11 and 12 will receive a 6% pay increase. These will apply until 31 March 2019.

The pay deal, which was announced by the Public Services Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), also confirms that pay progression is to be equalised across public sector staff in South Africa at 1.5% a year. This will be incorporated into national legislation and implemented on 1 July 2018 and 1 July 2019.

In addition, the pay deal will remove the link between pay bands and the payment of housing allowance for public sector employees’ spouses.

The pay agreement is to be signed today (Monday 21 May 2018) at 11am by involved parties.

Frikkie Be Bruin, general secretary at the PSCBC, said: “The PSCBC would like to thank parties for concluding this key agreement. We acknowledge the leadership of the minister of the public service and administration and leadership of the trade unions, managing this very tedious process over a prolonged period with all of the challenges we faced.

“We also want to express our appreciation to public servants tolerating the prolonged process and allowing us to find an amicable solution without having to revert to industrial action. Thank you to our facilitators Kaizer Thebedi and Ingrid Dimo for guiding us to this conclusion.”