The government has raised its wage offer to the country’s more than 1.3-million public servants to 7.5%, the second offer in as many weeks, threatening to undermine the credibility of the budget tabled in February.

The sweetened offer makes it more difficult for the Treasury to achieve planned fiscal sustainability as it pencilled in an average annual growth rate of 1.6% in government employee salaries for 2023/2024, an estimate that means the wage bill would overshoot R700bn...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.