18 Nov 2020

Limited Progression of social workers in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is due to inadequate positions of higher grades in the line of progression which is governed by competency based career path.

This was said by the Assistant Minister Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele when answering a question in Parliament. He noted that the situation was not peculiar to the ministry, but cut across the entire public service.

He, however, noted that in order to ensure that officers did not stagnate at lower levels, the officers were multiple graded from C4/3/2/1 on the same post without the need to create new posts if they performed satisfactorily at lower levels.

“It should be noted that D scale positions are middle management positions and social workers like any other cadre do compete with others for these positions based on performance as and when vacancies occur,” he stated.

Mr Modukanele said the ministry continually engaged staff including social workers on their welfare, working conditions and progression through staff welfare meetings and efforts were made to address their conditions of service.

He further noted the public service payment structure and conditions of service were reviewed that time and again.

Francistown West MP Mr Ignitions Moswaane had asked the minister if he was aware that social workers in the ministry were aggrieved by their conditions of service and that their progression was limited.

He also wanted to know when the ministry was planning to review the social workers’ payment structure. Ends