Pretoria - Public Service Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on
Tuesday that the government wants to invite labour back to the negotiating
table.
"They will be surprised that I have no horns and there
is no devil in me," Sisulu told reporters in Pretoria.
"It is in their interest that we find an amicable
solution."
She said that, on average, seven months a year are spent
negotiating.
"I don't believe this is right."
Sisulu said a service charter is needed which would deal
with, among other things, salary increases based on performance.
The charter would be necessary for the government to
function properly.
"We cannot go on like this with a wage bill that is
unaffordable."
The government made a final offer of a 6.5% increase last
week. Labour is demanding an 8% hike and has declared a wage
dispute.
Sisulu said she came into the job of public service minister
the day the final offer was made.
President Jacob Zuma moved Sisulu from defence to public
service during a cabinet reshuffle last week.
Sisulu said the total amount the state was offering was a 9% rise - 6.5% increase on salary and 2.5% increase on benefits.
The Treasury had budgeted for only 5%, she said.
"Government (is) in a situation where 9% is way above
what it has budgeted for.
"After a series of negotiations, we are at a point where we can influence and talk to labour so that we can find each other," she said.