Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has warned that it will take disciplinary measures against employees threatening to down tools.
Home Affairs Director-General Mkuseli Apleni said they have been reliably informed that some 6 000 employees have threatened to down tools as they are unhappy about the new working hours that are set to commence today.
“We therefore wish to send a warning to any official who participates in this illegal activity that the department will not hesitate to exercise its authority and deal decisively with those participating by taking disciplinary measures which may include dismissal,” Apleni warned on Sunday.
The Public Servants’ Association (PSA) and the department deadlocked on the proposed operating hours at a meeting on Friday.
The new office hours will be from 7.30am to 4.30pm, including a 30-minute lunch break. However, opening and closing hours for serving clients will be from 8am to 4pm.
With the new opening and closing hours, staff members will still work a 40-hour week spread over six days, Monday to Saturday, and work two Saturdays a month.
The PSA has argued that while Saturday will be an official working day, workers will incur additional travel and child care costs, while salaries remain the same. - SAnews.gov.za
