Union Fury: 5 Billion Rupees Budgeted, Immediate PRB Rollout Demanded Now

The Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU) has issued a staunch demand for the immediate implementation of the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) report, which it deems “crucial” and an “essential working instrument” for the public sector.

Lead Story: Immediate Action Required

In a press conference held yesterday (Thursday) at its Port Louis headquarters, Narendranath Gopee, a key negotiator for the FCSOU, and Vinesh Sewsurn, the union’s president, insisted on a swift roll-out of the report.

The union leaders warned against delays, stressing that the PRB report is “neither a luxury nor a favour,” but an obligation to workers and a pillar of the nation’s stability.

Challenging Political Interference and Misconceptions

Mr Gopee launched a sharp critique of what he called “erroneous perceptions” about the report’s scope and nature, particularly those recently aired in Parliament by the Prime Minister.

• The negotiator clarified that the PRB “examines the conditions of service of civil servants (….) and is not limited to financial considerations,” contradicting the Prime Minister’s suggestion in Parliament on Tuesday.
• He condemned the “dangerous shortcut” of reducing civil servants to people solely interested in money, an image he claimed was “inherited from the former regime.”
• Mr Gopee also hit back at the public perception that state employees benefit from excessive “paid benefits.”

Funding and Debt Concerns Dismissed

Addressing potential governmental reluctance, Mr Gopee dismissed any argument that the Treasury is empty, citing provisions in the last budget:

• He recalled that Rs 5 billion had already been budgeted for the PRB report’s application.
• The total cost, including the salary compensation, is estimated at Rs 6.25 billion.
• “The government has the means,” he asserted, warning against destabilising the country’s administration.

Mr Gopee also challenged the Prime Minister’s suggestion that public debt should be a factor in the PRB discussion. “The debt cannot enter into the PRB discussion,” he insisted, and went as far as to suggest it would be better for Navin Ramgoolam to assign the Finance portfolio to someone else.

“Technical Document, Not Political Tool”

The union chief was highly critical of political interventions, cautioning Joe Lesjongard and recalling that the MSM party had previously weaponised the PRB for political gain.

• He stressed that the report is a “technical document, not a political tool,” warning it “must not be debated in Parliament.”
• “It concerns the federations, the workers, the employers and, by extension, the government. It is neither a partisan tool nor a political communication issue,” he warned.

Disparity and Delay Questioned

Mr Gopee expressed perplexity at the Prime Minister’s statement that the report was in an “advanced stage,” asking: “How is it that we know where the report is, but not him?”

• He highlighted that officers had worked overtime to complete the report and demanded to know the reason for the delay.
• The negotiator even speculated the government might have been relying on money from the Chagos Islands, which could explain its “vague” statements, and demanded a “real statement” on its progress in Parliament.

FCSOU President Vinesh Sewsurn supported this stance, noting the 2021 report, published during the pandemic, failed to bring adequate measures. He warned against using the same arguments, stressing that the PRB must correct the current significant salary disparity in the civil service.

• “Valuing the public service is essential to strengthen the efficiency of the State,” Mr Sewsurn concluded.

The unions now demand transparency, rigour, and respect for commitments.

Source: l’Express