The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) have served NEDLAC with notices to embark on socio- economic protest actions next week.
Public Service and Administration Director-General, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi said as some of the public sector unions are planning to embark on the national stay-away next week Thursday, departments must apply the principle of “No Work, No Pay” for public servants who will be joining the protest action during working hours.
According to their respective notices, the protest actions, amongst others, involve a national stay-away or socio-economic strike from 18:00 on 01 December 2022 to 23h59 on 02 December 2022.
The DG said the principle of no work no pay should apply for absence of a full day as well as part of a working day and departments that are not effecting the deductions will be in violation of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999. The no work no pay principle must be effected in the month of the protest action/strike, if possible, but not later than the next month after the protest action.
Ms Makhasi further said that no leave should be granted for purposes of participation in strikes/protest actions, adding that leave should only be granted under the leave regulations.
In relation to reporting on the strike action, Departments are requested to provide the DPSA with the following information:
- The number of employees participating in the protest action for the duration of the protest, and the impact thereof on the activities of the Department, by 10:00 on the day of the protest action;
- An update of the above information by 15:00 on the same day; and
- A comprehensive report within three (3) days of the strike action.