JOHANNESBURG - The South African
government wants to renege on a three-year public sector wage
deal struck in 2018, and not pay public servants the agreed
increased pay for the final year starting April 2020, trade
unions said.
Public sector union NEHAWU said in a statement on Wednesday
the move was "a declaration of war" and threatened to shut down
government indefinitely, if Finance Minister Tito Mboweni
announces a freeze on public sector wages during a budget speech
later on Wednesday.
NEHAWU is one of the largest members of the COSATU trade
union federation that is in an alliance with the governing
African National Congress party.
COSATU said in a separate statement that reviewing the terms
of the 2018 deal was an "irresponsible and blatant act of
provocation".
But economists and ratings agencies are likely to view the
government's attempts to take a harder line with unions
favourably.
Public sector wages have been rising quickly at a time of
severe fiscal constraints and now account for around a third of
consolidated government expenditure.
The finance ministry, which is in a budget lockup, was not
available for comment.