Question NW1414 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
04 June 2018 - NW1414
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Whether there have been any talks and/or progress in the establishment of a separate bargaining council for the Department of Higher Education and Training; if not, what steps still need to be taken to establish the bargaining council; if so, what progress has been made in this regard; (2) which bargaining council(s) is/are currently responsible to deal with issues regarding the service conditions of public service staff employed by the Department of Higher Education and Training; (3) on what date did the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council or the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council receive the draft collective agreement on the service conditions of staff employed at community education and training centres as proposed by the Department of Higher Education and Training; (4) (a) which entity will deal with the proposed collective agreement in the meantime and (b) what would be a realistic timeline for an agreement on the service conditions of staff serving at community education and training colleges to be finalised?
Reply:
1. The Labour Relations Act, section 35-37 regulates the establishment of bargaining councils in the public service. The legislation provides for the establishment of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). It allows the PSCBC to designate Sectors. One of those sectors is the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council (GPSSBC). As per the designation of the GPSSBC, the Department of Higher Education falls within the scope of the GPSSBC. The GPSSBC established Chambers for all of the National and Provincial Governments falling within their scope. Also for the Department of Higher Education.
2. Conditions of service for the Public Service are determined by the PSCBC. Sector Councils deal with Sector Specific issues that falls within the competency of the relevant Minister.
3. No such draft agreement was tabled in either of the Councils.
4. Such proposals will be dealt with through sector specific conditions of service.