Govt mulls proposal by PSCBC negotiators to hike public sector wages by 6%

JOHANNESBURG - The public sector wage bill is expected to remain an elephant in the room as government mulls a proposal by negotiators at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) to hike wages by a total of 6% for the 2025/26 financial year.

This is double government’s initial offer of 3%.

Wage talks are currently underway, with the marathon negotiations running longer than expected.

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Trade unions representing more than 1.3 million teachers, police, nurses, and other public servants want a 12% increase.

Speaking at a media briefing before his public address, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said government still needed to err on the side of caution on the expenditure bill.

"The facilitation process came with a proposal – it’s not an agreement. It’s still a proposal that says we must move to 4.7% now and 1.3% in six months and it becomes 6%. It’s a proposal which we have not accepted."