- Insist that per diem is negotiable, DPSM firm that it’s an administrative matter
BAKANG TIRO
Manual Workers Union has resolved to drag the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) to court over reforms that introduce direction on the of use local per diem, and the voluntary exit packages.
On Thursday, the union indicated that their attorneys have filed statutory notice of intention to sue government, challenging the per diem reforms. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Manual Workers Union business consultant, Dr Johnson Motshwarakgole said per diem is negotiable and unions have a right to negotiate any adjustment to it.
The union position contradicts that of DPSM Director, Gaone Macholo who insists that per diem is an administrative matter, and therefore unions have no say although the employer consulted them for the purposes of collective bargaining. On Friday, Macholo reiterated that DPSM firmly believe that adjustment to local per diem conditions is not a negotiable matter but an administrative decision.
Too good to refuse
Macholo is adamant that enough consultation has happened on the local per diem issue. The six unions made suggestions that the employer has considered meaningfully, and government is now at liberty to implement, she said. “Regarding Leadership Transformation reform the key word is “Voluntary Separation”. A voluntary process can never be misconstrued to be forced. We remain open to once again consult meaningfully with the unions and consider ideas that will enrich the Transformation Programme, which government believes will be a great game changer for the Public Service. It is a valuable, exciting reform I must say,” she said.
The programme will open doors for those who want to leave on their own volition, create opportunities for promotion, open doors for more graduates and lastly give government a chance to develop leaders to lift the bar of government performance, she explained. “These benefits are too great to refuse or oppose,” Macholo emphasised.
Dr Motshwarakgole said other trade unions who pursued the matter have seemingly given up and let DPSM implement the new reforms. “We are suing them and we will surely win for the best interests of all workers,” said the confident Motshwarakgole, adding that DPSM will have to appear before court and justify why trade unions now don’t form part of per diem, adding that amounts to dictatorship.
Motshwarakgole also explained that Manual Workers will be suing government over voluntary separation exercise also known as leadership transformation programme. According to the veteran unionist, voluntary separation is illegal and it is forced retrenchment. “We are not going to allow the employer to be rogue and thinks it cannot seat for dialogue although making hazardous reforms. We are now concerned that DPSM under Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) administration is shunning collective bargaining,” he said.
Per diem reforms
On the new reforms, civil servants will be expected to account for and return balances for the P900 reserved for accommodation while P600 for meals and incidentals is not accounted for. They are expected to only book accommodation in licensed businesses and file the receipts. The local per diem rate remains at P1500. In a savingram this week, Macholo said DPSM and Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor the application of the per diem facility including the adequacy for these amounts in the next 12 months. She revealed that the imprest remains an alternative with its current conditions.
The initial per diem talks were between DPSM and Botswana Doctors Union (BDU), Botswana Nurses Union (BONU), Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) and Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU). The union party was of the view that DPSM should maintain the control measures of Local Per Diem as per the Public Service Directive No 1 of 2024, paragraph C, which stipulates that the government will pay accommodation costs directly to licensed hospitality facilities for P800 per day, whilst the P700 paid for meals and incidental expenses remains unaccounted for.