The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] calls on President Ramaphosa to reject the 3.8% salary increase recommendation for Public Office Bearers by the Independent Commission for Remuneration for Public Office Bearers.
The Commission recommended a 3.8% increase to the remuneration for all categories of Public Office Bearers to be backdated to the 01st April 2022.
The recommendation by commission comes against the background of a stagnant economy with no foreseeable prospect of growth due to the implementation failing macro-economic policies centred on austerity which have fostered high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Equally, this proposed salary increment comes after the government recently butchered workers in the concluded public service wage negotiations by offering them an increment far below the inflation rate. This forms part of the broader government program of austerity by freezing and cutting salaries of public servants in order to reduce the public service wage bill.
As NEHAWU, we would find absolutely unethical for President Ramaphosa to agree to the recommendation amidst the challenges confronting the country, which by the way are as a result of the dismal failure of Public Office Bearers to govern this country. Why should they be rewarded with a salary increment after plunging this country into the current crisis?
The current crisis of unemployment, poverty and inequality has brought about miseries, pains and suffocation to workers and the working class in its entirety thereby threatening their livelihoods. The conditions of life for workers and the working class continues to get worse, and this is evident with the rising costs of basic necessities, high interest rates, job cuts and wage cuts.
Surely, Public Office Bearers should not be exempted from the conditions and plight that confronts the rest of the country. Infact, they should be in solidarity with our people by refusing this diabolical recommendation by the commission.
Lastly, as NEHAWU, we call on President Ramaphosa to reject recommendation of salary increment for Public Office Bearers.
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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za