Page 17 - DPSA - Service Delivery Report

Housing scheme empowers government employees to become homeowners
PUBLIC SERVICE
Russel Mamabolo, Stakeholder Man- agement, Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS) reports on the achievements of the GEHS since its establishment.
The Government Employee Housing Scheme (GEHS) initiative is a result of the adoption of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Resolution 7 of 2015 that led to the establishment of the scheme. The Department of Public Service and Administration should be proud that the GEHS is contributing to the Nation- al Development plan strategic Goal no 2 – Public Service that is a career of choice.
Prior to 29 September 2004, public service employees could participate in the Homeowners Allowance (HOA) Scheme. However, the HOA was found to be cumbersome to departments, complex and open to abuse. The HOA scheme was phased out through a multi-year agreement, in terms of the
Public PSCBC Resolution 2 of 2004. The resolution was intended to recog- nise all forms of tenure including rent- al arrangements, and to set the base to equalise the value of the housing allowance and rental allowance until 2009.
However in 2007, parties agreed through PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2007 to embark on a comprehensive review of the current housing allowance policy in order to promote home ownership for employees in the public service and achieving alignment with other practic- es regarding housing benefits in the labour market.
Resolution 4 of 2010, led to parties agreeing to develop and implement a sustainable home ownership scheme for public service employees. The new scheme was to be developed in collab- oration with the Department of Human Settlements (DHS), the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
Again, Resolution 2 of 2011 direct- ed that parties agree to develop and present a comprehensive Government Employees Housing Scheme that en- sures home ownership for all levels of employees within the public service. It was agreed that the GEHS should assist employees by mobilising public investments, including the GEPF.
Furthermore, Resolution 1 of 2012 was focused on the agreement that parties at the PSCBC share a common strate- gic vision of promoting and implement- ing home ownership for all public ser- vice employees. It was further agreed that a new housing dispensation will be negotiated in the PSCBC in the form of the GEHS.
A milestone was reached when par- ties agreed and signed Resolution 7 of 2015 on 27 May 2015. The resolution is commonly referred to as a frame- work agreement for the establishment of a Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS).
Volume 12 No.3 of 2019 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 15