South Africa Public Workers Signal Acceptance of State Pay Hike

South African public servants are likely to accept the government’s latest wage offer, according an initial estimate of a ballot of labor-union members.

Employee groups representing about 1.3 million government workers are currently seeking a mandate from their members to accept a 7.5% increase in their pay in the fiscal year that begins on April 1. The proposal includes a pensionable cash gratuity and excludes housing and medical insurance, Reuben Maleka, spokesman for the 235,000-member Public Servants Association, said in response to questions sent by text message on Monday.