South Africa Raises Pay Offer in Bid to Avert Strike

South Africa’s government raised its pay offer to 1.3 million state employees in a bid to avoid a strike that threatens to close schools and hospitals.

The government proposed increasing workers’ base pay by 7 percent, up from a previous offer of 6.5 percent, backdated to July 1. Its offer to lift housing allowances to 630 rand ($87) from 500 rand was left unchanged. Adjustments to salary bands meant most workers would on average receive 9 percent increases, Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi said.