The conciliator’s recommendations came after a two-day extended conciliation session in Durban last week.
Cape Town – Following five months of protracted municipal wage negotiations, the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) conciliator has recommended that all municipal employees receive an increase of 3.5% backdated to July 1, 2021.
The conciliator also said that different categories of employees should receive an additional once-off non-pensionable cash allowance.
The conciliator’s recommendations came after a two-day extended conciliation session in Durban last week.
South African Local Government Association (Salga) spokesperson Sivuyile Mbambato said: “We are optimistic that the process has moved to an advanced stage, compared to where it all started in March 2021.
“The essence of the conciliator’s recommendations is that it advocates a multi-year agreement and inflation-linked increases. It also comes with elements of cost containment measures in areas around employee costs in municipalities.
“Salga hopes this development will go a long way in cementing the labour relations, so that the sector can return to more pressing matters such as continuing the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, working on improving the financial recovery of municipalities and fast-tracking service delivery,” said Mbambato.
Parties involved in the dispute including Salga and the Independent Municipal & Allied Trade Union (Imatu) were expected to make submissions to the SALGBC yesterday.
