This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
News24 reports that amid a public outcry over a 3% increase for public office bearers, Parliament has defended the increase by noting that public office bearers last received a pay hike in 2019.
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a 3% increase for public office bearers based on the recommendation of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. The general response was that the increase was "tone deaf", to which Parliament responded: "Nothing could be further from the truth." Public office bearers like Ministers, MPs and MPLs last had salary increases in April 2019 when the commission recommended a 2.8 % increase, Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo pointed out in a statement. He went on to indicate: "Because of the prevailing and difficult economic conditions, it was important that the remuneration of the public office bearers be adjusted to enable them to cope with the rising costs of living. The average consumer inflation rate has been on the increase, and for 2021, it was 4.5%, which is higher than the averages recorded for 2020 (3.3%) and 2019 (4.1%) - resulting in the buying power of the disposable income becoming lower." Mothapo added: "Another important factor that must be highlighted - a matter that is sometimes misinterpreted - is the fact that salaries of MPs are published as a total remuneration package (total cost to company) and not cost-plus benefits." Mothapo pointed out that as an additional safeguard, South African MPs were barred from undertaking "any other remunerative responsibilities outside of their parliamentary work", unlike several other countries.
Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page