The Public Service Commission (PSC) has disclosed that government departments owe more than R16 billion in unpaid leave benefits to close to 190,000 public service employees. These are workers who were employed before July 2000, when the public sector changed its leave policy.
At the heart of the issue is a policy shift that took place over two decades ago. Under the old system, leave days accumulated over time. But when the system changed, many employees lost access to that accrued leave or were never paid out for it.
The PSC says this long-standing debt continues to affect both current and retired workers—many of whom have either left the public service or passed away without receiving what they were owed.
Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya called on government to urgently settle the matter. He warned that without proper action, the financial burden could continue to grow. The PSC is recommending that National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration work together on a plan to resolve the payouts—possibly in phases—to ease the strain on the national budget.
Stay informed. This is Al Ansaar News.
Article written by:
Hudaa Ahmed
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
