02 Feb 2015

The Bargaining Council is yet to conclude negotiations for public service salaries.

Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Kenneth Matambo, said government hoped that the negotiations would be concluded before the next financial year so that public service servants would not be disadvantaged. He was speaking in Parliament when presenting the 2015/16 budget today (February 2).

However, Minister Matambo noted that government had made an offer to the unions. This was despite the downside risks with respect to prospects for diamond revenues, the need to pay outstanding debts and restoring net financial asset position.

Such an offer, he said, was based on projected financial resources hence it was expected that trade unions would appreciate the budgetary constraints facing the government.

Mr Matambo further noted that government remained fully committed to the bargaining council in the process of negotiating public service salaries and would continue to consult with trade unions. ENDS