31 Aug 2020

Government took a decision to multiple-grade all C-Band (C4-3-2-1) positions and budget for them at C1 as a broader strategy to improve public service capacity and accommodate the recruitment of graduates without experience.

This was said by Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu when answering a question in Parliament recently.

He noted that the decision allowed for employees to progress in this band without the need to request for additional positions.

Mr Mthimkhulu said while it was true that there was congestion and overstaying in some scales in the public service, largely being experienced in the C-Band, specifically at C1, the issue of congestion was not limited to the C-Band positions.

The assistant minister said the recent consultancy on the Review of the Public Service Remuneration System has revealed that employees who had been on one grade for more than five years across the public service were  as follows; C1 stood at 36 per cent, D1 at 24 per cent and E1 at 23 per cent.

Moreover, Mr Mthimkhulu said that the public service had a pyramid model, where there were more positions at the lower grades and fewer positions at the top.

He said the structure was more pronounced at C1, D1, E1 and F2.

As such, Mr Mthimukhulu said  there would be more competition as employees progressed up the organisational structure.

“In order to address the congestion and overstay, government has included the redesigning of the Public Service Salary Structure in the negotiated agreement with the public service unions,” he said.

The Assistant Minister also explained that the new recommended structure was anticipated to have wider range per grade, with the ranges increasing as the grades escalated.

Mr Mthimkhulu also stated that the structure would allow employees to be rewarded based on performance in the same range without the need for promotion.

Maun East legislator, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister if he was aware of the congestion and overstaying in one scale within the public service and to further state the total number of public servants per scale.

Mr Kekgonegile also wanted to know how the congestion and overstay would be addressed. Ends