Trade
unions have expressed surprise at the government’s decision to freeze
new public service employment and pay rise for thousands of eligible
civil servants.
The
jobs freeze, which was confirmed on Monday by Public Service Management
Permanent Secretary Laurean Ndumbaro, came as a shock to union leaders,
who told The Citizen yesterday that they would seek audience with the government over the matter with a view to having the decision overturned.
The
union leaders spoke even as Health minister Ummy Mwalimu expressed hope
that the matter would not be prolonged to the extent of affecting her
docket which, along with education, would be hit hard by the decision.
The health and education sectors expected to recruit at least 45,000 new
employees, mainly secondary school teachers, doctors and nurses, in
2016/17.
Anxiety
was also evident among public sector employees as they discussed the
consequences of the indefinite ban on new jobs and pay rise among the
over 400,000 public sector workers. Some of the workers said they feared
for their jobs, adding that union leaders appeared to be clueless about
the government’s real intention.
