G Fraser-Moleketi on meeting with trade unions

2 February 2007

The first meeting for 2007 between the Minister for Public Service and
Administration and the leaders of the trade unions to the Public Service
Co-ordinating Bargaining Council was held at the Midrand Protea Hotel on 2
February 2007. This meeting is part of the normal briefing sessions between the
Minister for Public Service and Administration (MPSA) and the leaders of the
unions and they take place on a quarterly basis.

These discussions are mainly for information sharing and engagement on
current and emerging policy issues. In these meetings presentations and
discussion papers are tabled either by the unions or by the Department of
Public Service and Administration. These engagements assist in strengthening
the partnership between government as an employer and the unions as a key
social partner.

Government and the labour movement recognise that the emphasis should be on
taking the partnerships forward and to see to it that communication between the
parties is managed effectively to ensure that the national goals are achieved,
such as the commitment and mandate of halving unemployment by 2014.

The meeting of 2 February 2007 covered the following areas:

1. Public Service Amendment Bill
2. The Single Public Service
3. Personnel Expenditure Review report
4. Revised Public Service Remuneration Policy.

The DPSA made a presentation on each of the above areas as part of sharing
current information and policy thinking.

The meeting concluded on the understanding that a number of these areas
require further engagement and the need for a workshop to deepen understanding
and the consultative process. The issue of the Single Public Service and the
Personnel Expenditure Review to be taken further through a workshop, whereas
the Amendments to the Public Service Act is currently in the parliamentary
process.

Issued by: Ministry for Public Service and Administration and unions
2 February 2007