BL Premium reports that in a one-year pay deal, water sector workers represented in the Amanzi Bargaining Council will receive an across-the-board, above-inflation wage rise of 7%.
According to Dumisane Magagula of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), the wage agreement is effective from 1 July. As part of the deal, workers will be entitled to a R3,500 housing allowance and five days’ long-service leave for each five years of service, while all water boards must conduct a benchmarking exercise within three months. That exercise, which could put a strain on the water boards’ finances, is aimed at harmonising workers’ salaries across the water boards. The country’s water boards include Amatola Water, Bloem Water, Lepelle Northern Water, Magalies Water, Mhlathuze Water, Overberg Water, Rand Water and Umgeni Water. The boards’ functions include operating dams and other bulk water supply infrastructure and providing technical know-how to municipalities. Magagula said further demands pertaining to annual leave, funeral transport, first aid/firefighting/safety, health, environment and quality allowances, cellphone/data, maternity leave, overtime/statutory, overtime/parental leave, meal allowances, pay progression, retirement functions, and tool allowances “have been deferred to plant level and shall be concluded within three months of signing this agreement”.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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