(2 minutes read)
· The South African government does not have to pay out
increased salaries to public sector workers, after the Labor Appeal Court gave a verdict that the implementation of the disputed agreement unlawful
· The dispute arose when the state refused to implement the final year of the agreement on the plea that exchequer did not have the money to pay
· Also, the government had pleaded the agreement was unlawful as the state never had the money to implement it
The South African government does not have to pay out increased salaries to public sector workers, after the Labor Appeal Court gave a verdict that the implementation of the disputed agreement was unlawful.
The public sector unions sought the roll out of the final leg of a multi-year wage agreement entered with the government, a part of which was pending. The Labor Appeal court heard the case earlier in December.
The dispute arose when the state refused to implement the final year of the agreement on the plea that the exchequer did not have the money to pay. Also, the government had pleaded the agreement was unlawful as the state never had the money to implement it. The Appeal court has now concurred with the state’s decision.
The court was of the view that there was no valid agreement signed with unions in 2018 since it did not comply with provisions in the constitution, as well as public service regulations. It is not immediately known what course of action the unions would take. They can go in appeal against the decision of the labor appeal court to higher courts.
