15 Nov 2020

Parliament has been told that there are no public officers who fall under the Public Service Act that get a risk allowance.

Responding to a parliamentary question, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumizweni Mthimkhulu noted that the ministry as such was not aware of any essential service employees or any other officer in the Public Service who were being paid risk allowance. 

He said the 1998 Presidential Commission on Salaries and Conditions of Services Reviews stated that every job which had occupational risks should be taken care of by adequate occupational safety measures such as protective clothing and safety procedures. 

The Assistant Minister said the commission also observed that the compensation for the risks claimed would not be a preventive measure. He further indicated that the conditions of service for public officers were negotiable matters, therefore, nurses’ risk allowance would be negotiated between the employer and the recognised public service unions through the laid down structures and decisions reached accordingly if the need arises.

Takatokwane MP, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe had wanted the minister to explain why nurses were not given risk allowance like other essential service officers and to state if they were not at risk due to the nature of their work. ENDS