Blow to civil servants after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has suspended review of basic salary structures and allowances paid in the public sector.
According to SRC, this is to jumpstart the economy that has been ravaged by Covid-19.
SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said the decision was arrived at following recommendations by the National Treasury, citing tough economic times and constraints to the budget occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Cognisant of the government’s financial constraints, the current wage bill ratios, the need to release resources for investment in the strategic priorities of the government to jumpstart the Covid-19-ravaged economy, there will be no review of the basic salary structures, allowances and benefits paid in the public sector in the financial year 2021/2022-2022/23,” she said.
Additionally, she said there will be no salary increments for the public servants for the next two years.
The commission further announced that no additional funding will be provided for implementation of the job evaluation results in the next two financial years.
“Public sector institutions may implement job evaluation results, by placing jobs in their rightful job evaluation grading, within the existing salary structures and approved budgets, subject to confirmation to SRC that the funding is provided for in the current budget,” said SRC.
The commission says it will review the situation after two fiscal years, and based on the status of the economy, it will guide on the way forward for the remaining period of the third remuneration and benefits review cycle.
National Treasury wants to be adequately resourced to make prompt and targeted interventions to scale up Covid-19 response, reduce debt vulnerabilities, address weaknesses in state-owned enterprises and support financial stability.
