Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant says public servants must be held to account when it comes to upholding the ethos, principles and values of public administration.
The Minister was addressing the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) collective bargaining indaba on Tuesday.
She said the Public Service Charter must, which all public servants are expected to sign, serve as a guiding tool for good governance, democracy and sound working relations between the State, public servants and citizens.
The overarching goal of the charter is to improve service delivery in the public sector, while also ensuring an effective, efficient and responsive public service.
The Minister said upholding the values enshrined in the charter would go a long way to reversing corruption in the public service.
“We must equally be concerned about corruption in the public service and its negative impact on the socio-economic landscape… [We must be] motivated by the proven value of collaboration in building a new South Africa,” the Minister told the indaba.
Turning to the new trends in the labour market across the globe, Oliphant said the commission is investigating every facet of the fourth industrial revolution, and the challenges and opportunities that it may bring.
“While the scale of causalities cannot be quantified, likewise the opportunities that it will bring, are not known at this stage. It is better to prepare for all possible scenarios.”
With regards to the recent announcements by many companies of possible job losses in various sectors, the Minister said this was a grave concern.
“To what extent are these job losses as a result of new technology and the uncertainty of the future of work, requires a much deeper understanding of the forces at play.”
The indaba, held under the theme ‘Advancing & protecting workplace democratisation through strengthening collective bargaining as to ensure economic development, social justice & labour peace within the public service’, will today be addressed by Public Service And Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo. – SAnews.gov.za
