The process has already begun in the Northern Province and the Eastern Cape, and we expect an initial overview of the situation by the end of March this year. Experience indicates that alternatives to retrenchment can be effective. The public service has shrunk by 10 per cent since 1994. This decline in size is primarily due to the restructuring of departments. As departments have restructured they have eliminated vacant positions and re-deployed redundant personnel.
Involuntary retrenchment is an expense option.
The government cannot afford to pay out involuntary retrenchment packages in the public service that are equivalent to those in the private sector. The costs would run into billions of rands. Even in exclusively financial terms, a modest investment in exploring alternatives to involuntary retrenchment is worthwhile. Simplified and speedy new procedures for dealing with misconduct As mentioned by the President in his address last week, a majority of the unions in the bargaining council have agreed to support the implementation of new procedures for handling misconduct in the public service. These procedures are outlined in a new Disciplinary Code for the public service.