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The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu, is calling for the citizens of South Africa to come forward with proposals which might assist in resolving the deadlock between Government and Organised Labour over the current public service wage negotiations. This comes after Government and Labour reached a deadlock on negotiations on Friday. 

The Minister held a media briefing last week Thursday, the 22nd of April 2021, and stated that these were the most difficult wage negotiations between the parties, which the country had ever faced and based this on a number of factors, including: the bad state of the country’s economy; COVID-19, the outcome in the Labour Appeal Court, with Organised Labour appealing the decision in the Constitutional Court, as well as the need for urgent reforms in the public service, to name a few. 

Whilst Government has made mention of the fact that it has appointed a Lead Negotiator and whilst Government has since responded to Labour’s demands, the parties have reached a deadlock. A number of proposals have been put forth by experts such as economists and actuaries as well as other individuals; the viability of those proposals is being probed. Government is passionately keen on making further efforts to find a solution and in this regard, is inviting proposals. 

Having elaborated on the 4 components which comprise the public service during the briefing, namely: the Citizens, Government, Public Service and Public Servants, the Minister is making a call for proposals which might potentially resolve the deadlock in respect of the wage negotiations – citizens, professionals, and civil organisations are all invited to assist in resolving the deadlock by providing proposals, including, innovative ideas on how best to improve Government, citizens and Labour relations. 

Issued by GCIS on behalf of the Department of Public Service and Administration