Minister Muthambi commits to work with public service unions

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Pretoria - Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi has undertaken to work closely with all public service unions to address outstanding matters on conditions of service and implementation of agreements.

The commitment by the Minister follows consultative engagements with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)-aligned public service unions and the Independent Labour Caucus in Pretoria. 

The Minister also met with the leadership of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), led by Secretary General Frikkie de Bruin.

Minister Muthambi took note of concerns raised by the unions concerning the implementation of the Government Employees Housing Scheme.

"It is imperative that the Government Employees Housing Scheme is implemented in accordance with the PSCBC agreement. We therefore need to relook at how the scheme should be better implemented to benefit workers, public servants who are struggling with financing for housing," said the Minister.

The Minister stressed the importance of collective implementation of agreements within the framework of the PSCBC to avoid unilateral implementation of bargaining matters.

"It is critical that we work for a productive and stable public service. We have to collaborate with our labour partners and ensure that the public service machinery functions with the ultimate goal of delivering efficient services to the people."

The Minister also undertook to address  urgently all agreements on conditions of service-related matters that are still outstanding, including complaints around the Government Employees Medical Scheme. – SAnews.gov.za