A working group set up by the government and labour unions on Friday morning to explore ”all possible options” for a resolution to the public-service pay rise impasse had compiled a document by late afternoon.
The document was due to be tabled in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) shortly, government negotiator Kenny Govender said at 4pm.
The working group was set up when an urgently convened PSCBC meeting got under way in Centurion at 10am.
The group broke away for separate talks, and the council meeting was put on hold pending its report.
Govender would not say if the document amounted to progress or contained a possible draft agreement.
Once it was tabled, the meeting would probably break up for parties to consider the document separately and obtain mandates, he said.
The meeting could then reconvene on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
”If we are ready to sign today, we will sign,” Govender added.
Hundreds of thousands of public servants went on strike nationwide on Thursday in protest against the government’s pay rise offer.
They are demanding a 7% across-the-board increase, instead of the government’s maximum 6%, and better medical aid and housing benefits.
They are also unhappy with the employer’s proposed inflation-linked pay rise offer for the next two years.
Unions have threatened to extend the strike to Monday and Tuesday next week if their concerns are not addressed.
After Thursday’s strike, a government spokesperson said the employer had not changed its position, but remained committed to resolving the impasse. — Sapa