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GOVT TABLES 0.0% FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

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MANZINI – Once again, it will be another gloomy year for civil servants as government has tabled 0.0 per cent salary increase for a second consecutive year.
The much anticipated salary talks meeting between public sector associations (PSAs) representing civil servants at the round table and government negotiation team (GNT), which talks on behalf of government, ended on a sour note yesterday.


According to well-placed sources within the joint negotiation forum (JNF), the GNT, instead of tabling a counter offer to the 6.5 per cent demand which was tabled by the unions last week, government presented an overview of the country’s economic situation when the meeting started at 10am.
Thereafter, the insider said the GNT then issued an A4 page containing government’s offer to civil servants as cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2018/19 financial year, and it was the same as that of last financial year; zero per cent.


According to the source, the GNT said in light of the prevailing economic fiscal review and outlook herein presented, government was tabling an offer of zero per cent across the board for COLA for the financial year 2018/19.


Increment


“According to the tabled offer, the zero per cent increment was with effect from April 1, 2018,” the source said.
Furthermore, the insider said in the written offer, which was tabled by the GNT, government requested PSAs to appreciate the magnitude of the fiscal and cash flow challenges it (government) faced and accept the offer. He added that government said it was sensitive to the effects of inflation, but unfortunately it was unable to cushion its employees this financial year.


“At this stage, the situation requires sacrifice from all concerned,” reads part of the written offer, which was tabled by government. After presenting the offer, which the unions referred to as an insult, the source said the leaders of the PSAs asked for an adjournment so that they could analyse and understand the offer by government.


During their caucus, which was held outside the negotiations venue; the Ministry of Public Service boardroom, the source said the leaders of the unions agreed that government’s economic outlook presentation and its offer was meant to crumple the talks. 
Later on, the source said the union leaders went back to the round table with the sole intention of pushing for a deadlock. Unfortunately, the source said the GNT refused to agree on it.


Instead, the source said the GNT asked the unions to allow it to set another date where they would continue with the negotiations.
“The unions wanted clarity if the GNT will come with an improved offer on the new date, but its response was that it will make a presentation that will convince them to accept the offer, as it was the best that the employer could put on the round table,” the source alleged.

 

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