01 Dec 2022

Government and five unions will return to the negotiation table to conclude the agreement on ceasing the provision of pool housing and rental subsidy for public officers to give them an opportunity to purchase pool housing.

Answering a question in Parliament the Assistant Minister for State President Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said the recent rental adjustment on pool and institutional housing which had since been withdrawn and the ancillary and administrative matters related to the rental adjustment and subsequent withdrawal were being finalised.

Giving background, he explained that the issue was one of the items that government wanted to consult on during negotiations with the nine Public Service Trade Unions on salary adjustment and other conditions of service for financial years 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.

He, however, said during the negotiations, government was only able to consult, negotiate and agree in principle with four unions on ceasing the provision of pool housing and rental subsidy for public officers to afford them an opportunity to purchase pool houses. 

“The five unions indicated that they would only be in a position to discuss and negotiate the issue of ceasing the provision of pool housing and rental subsidy only after recent adjustments on pool and institutional housing which had been introduced a few months prior were withdrawn or suspended. The parties agreed to disagree,” he said.

Mr Mthimkhulu further noted that the parties appeared before the Commissioner of Labour and agreed to engage each other to try and settle the matter pertaining to rental adjustment. 

Francistown South MP Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had requested an update on progress made regarding the lifting of the moratorium on the purchase of pool houses and communication of the same to the relevant authorities. Ends