Workers in the public sector who were promised a review of their salaries and other working conditions last December , are still waiting nine months later. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Danny Faure while presenting the 2008 budget, during which time huge salary increases for constitutional appointees, such as Ministers and MNAs received the Assembly’s approval. It now looks as if they have all opposition MNAs included forgotten about this promise they made to review government workers’ salary.
Such a review would be very welcome at a time when the cost of living has doubled, or even trebled and most government workers are at great pains to make ends meet.
In total contrast, the hefty salary and gratuity packages announced for politicians and other constitutional appointees- 62 of them, surprised everyone and did not need expert advice to work out, it took only a couple of meetings at State House between the President, the Leader of Opposition, the Leader of Government Business and Mr. Speaker over a cup of hot tea.
The Seychellois public later learned that it was all discussed during the “dialogue” meetings only when a dispute between Opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan and Leader of Government Business Marie-Louise Potter, broke out recently in the Assembly. Ramkalawan was so overwhelmed with joy that he led his team to approve the budget which also provided for significant increases in water and electricity rates, the road tax and other charges. He even shock the nation when he claimed that he was glad that he has lost the presidential election as the responsibility this involves was beyond him.
Most workers received nothing. Those at the bottom of the government salary scale were awarded increases of between R100 and R.500. But civil servants earning above R3, 500 per month, were completely overlooked. The Minister of Finance, Danny Faure, promised that they will soon benefit from a Commonwealth Review of civil servants’ salaries in Seychelles. However, some ten months later, Faure is yet to deliver on another promise giving credence to the argument that the SPPF government has acquired the unhealthy habit of making promises they cannot keep.
During the days when Mr. Mancham was Chief Minister, salary reviews of civil servants were routine and usually involved a back-pay as well. The last was finalised some weeks before the coup d’Etat and disbursed soon after by the new self-appointed SPPF government. We beg of the opposition representation in the National Assembly to raise this issue on behalf of the electorate they purport to represent. Please, pour lanmour Sesel!!!