The Public Servants Association (PSA), the majority trade union representing more than 75% of employees at Home Affairs, has strongly condemned the department’s reckless conduct by publicly reopening debate on working hours.
The PSA received a favourable Constitutional Court ruling on working hours in 2017 after the department failed to honour various court rulings that prevented it from amending working hours.
The association was dismayed to learn through media reports that the department again planned to amend operational working hours and introduce a shift system.
The PSA is disappointed that the department opted to engage on such a crucial issue in this manner and is blatantly ignoring the collective bargaining structures.
The association, on September 29, 2017, attended a colloquium at the invitation of the then Home Affairs Minister, Hlengiwe Mkhize, to discuss the repositioning of the department.
The association, at the time, supported the initiative that was mandated to discuss proposals on how in different sectors of society, a repositioned department could be a key enabler of empowerment, development, services and security.
Although the PSA supports any means to improve service delivery, it should not be at the expense of employees.
The PSA has always been a major role player in ensuring that the department effectively serves communities, while also constructively addressing issues that affect the union’s members.
The stance now taken by the department to ignore the PSA and deviate from constructive engagement through the bargaining structures, however, forces the PSA to vigorously challenge the department.
As it stands, the status quo remains. Operational working hours at the Department of Home Affairs are from Monday to Friday.