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Wage increase negotiations have been ongoing between the government and unions representing workers in the public sector. The breakdown of the most recent final offer brought before unions has been clarified.

Public service worker unions and the government are yet to come to a wage increase agreement, despite months of negotiations. The next few weeks are therefore crucial if industrial action is to be prevented.

Ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentarians will be pleased after President Cyril Ramphosa accepted recommendations which will result in an increase in their remuneration. However, the move has not been well received.

A Constitutional Court decision which absolved the government from honouring a multi-year public sector wage increase was taken on the chin by unions and workers alike. However, the fight for increases has just begun with a 10% increase being demanded.

The Constitutional Court's dismissal, in late February 2022, of the public service unions' appeal over the 2018 wage agreement with the South African government marks the end of a long legal battle that began in 2018. 

A tough next round of wage negotiations has been set up after public sector unions lost a court bid that will see their members lose out on the third year increases of the collective wage agreement reached in 2018.