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PSA condemns cellphone ban for front-desk staff at Home Affairs

Source: ANA Newswire, 16/01/2019


The department said that it has launched a probe into the incident as
the use of cellphones by front office officials while performing
their duties is prohibited.
PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks said that all stakeholders agreed
in the bargaining chamber on the Home Affairs policy that regulated
employees’ use of cell phones.
“The department was part of this process that resulted in the policy
being adopted. The PSA therefore wants to sensitise the portfolio
committee on its roles and responsibilities and advises it to rather
focus on these instead of interfering with government employees’
terms and conditions of employment,” Fredericks said.
“These matters are negotiated at the relevant bargaining structures
and the committee does not have any power to change these, unless
negotiated and agreed upon at sectoral level.”
Fredericks said that the PSA, as the majority union at Home Affairs,
called on the committee to refrain from making “reckless statements”
that could provoke unnecessary strike action.
“Such utterances expose public servants to undue public abuse and
even physical attacks at the workplace when effective measures are
already in place to address such conduct where warranted,” Fredericks
said.


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