Management of Incapacity due to ill-Health in the Public Service: briefing by Department

Meeting report

PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
29 January 2004
MANAGEMENT OF INCAPACITY DUE TO ILL-HEALTH IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE: BRIEFING BY DEPARTMENT

Chairperson: P.J. Gomomo (ANC)

Relevant documents:
Presentation by the Department of Public Service and Administration on management of incapacity due to ill health

SUMMARY
The Department of Public Service and Administration briefed the committee on management of incapacity due to ill-health in the Public Service. It focused on the current leave benefits, incapacity leave and ill-health retirement. They also looked at how the current system gets abused.

MINUTES
Ms Ramkin (Senior Manager: Remuneration Policy and Conditions of Service) and Mr Van Pletzen (Manager: Conditions of Service) represented the Department of Public Service and Administration.

Discussion
Due to audiotape problems the discussion could not be recorded. The questions dealt with questions of clarification about sick leave and incapacity leave. Members were concerned about the lack of control government had over this area. They mentioned employees who retire due to ill health and then get a salary elsewhere. The Department's response was that this is an uphill battle but legally there hands are tied and they cannot do anything about this. The Committee disputed this reply.