Pretoria – Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi says the new Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) building, when completed, should recognise the struggles and be a symbol to all workers on the victories achieved.
“It should be a symbol of that struggle and a demonstration that the loss of life in achieving recognition of workers’ rights was not in vain,” the Minister said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a sod-turning ceremony of the new PSBC building in Centurion, Pretoria, Minister Muthambi said the building should also symbolise the continuous protection of the rights of the working class, especially the protection of these rights within the public service.
The Minister said while government acknowledges that there are high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality, the National Development Plan asserts that the public service is central to achieving the objective of improving the lives of our people.
“We have to address and defeat the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. We need to address the principles of radical economic transformation. We need to find the missing middle class,” Minister Muthambi said.
She said the legislative prescripts governing the PSCBC, create an independent institution whose main objective is to maintain sound labour relations in the public service.
“We are all signatories to the Service Charter, a product of this institution, the PSCBC, which is a commitment by ourselves to provide better and more efficient services to all South Africans.
“As this event also signifies the celebration of the PSCBC 20th anniversary, we need to build on the pillars of democratisation, economic development, social justice and labour peace as identified by the PSCBC. We do hope in the design of your building, these pillars will find a prominent place of expression.”
Office space for the PSCBC over the years
In the year 2000, the rent of office space for the PSCBC and the three Sector Council was in excess of R2 million.
By the end of the year 2000, Council signed a two-year lease agreement that ensured that the PSCBC and every Sector is housed in its own floor within a building in the current office park.
In 2003, the parties to the PSCBC entered into PSCBC Resolution 5 of 2003, allowing for Sectors to levy their own funds for processes of collective bargaining and dispute resolution and as such provision of accommodation remained the responsibility of the PSCBC.
In the same year, the Council established a joint task team as was required by PSCBC Resolution 5 of 2003, to consider the changing challenges of accommodation.
The task team was mandated to investigate the acquisition of permanent accommodation.
The task team finalised its work in March 2004 and tabled to Council a recommendation that the option to develop a new building, according to the specific needs of the public service bargaining councils, was the best option.
The Council did not agree to the option at that time but opted to enter into a seven-year lease agreement with the then owners of the current office park. – SAnews.gov.za
