accommodation from the state
30 November 2007
With reference to recent reports regarding an increase in rental charged to
state employees renting accommodation from the state, the facts are that,
following the conclusion of Resolution 1 of 2007 between the State and trade
union parties at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC),
the measures in respect of housing allowance and rental payable to State
Housing were agreed to as follows:
Housing allowance was increased to R500 per month with effect from 1 July
2007.
Furthermore, parties agreed to increase Rental for State Housing from R242
per month to R500 per month with effect from 1 July 2007. However, as
transitional measures with due regard to a fair process, the Minister for the
Public Service and Administration issued a directive that affected employees be
served with a notice of the increase in the rental payable for State Housing
with effect from 1 January 2008, without backdating the increase to 1 July
2007. In other words, increase in rent is only with effect from 1 January
2008.
In relation to transitional measures, I wish to point out that with effect
from 1 July 2007; State employees have been receiving an increased housing
allowance without a corresponding increase in rent for state housing. In this
regard, employees renting from the State will be benefiting from the increase
in housing allowance for six months until the implementation date of 1 January
2008.
With effect from 1 January 2008 employees in State Housing will thus
continue to receive accommodation at no cost to them as the rental payable is
offset by the increased housing allowance.
For further information please call:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: Ministry of Public Service and Administration
30 November 2007
