NN 29/2025
ARBEIDS-
AANGELEENTHEDE
Vervroegde Aftrede Program (VAP)
Die SAOU het reeds hieroor pro-aktief opgetree en baie van u vrae is in ‘n Zoom aanbieding van 6 November 2025 aangespreek.
Kyk gerus weer:
Die Departement van Basiese Onderwys in die vorige week aangekondig dat alle provinsies opleiding ontvang het en gereed is om die Vervroegde Aftrede Program te implementeer.
Hiermee saam is die aankondiging gemaak dat die datum vir finale indiening van aansoeke 30 November 2025 is.
Die Departement van Basiese Onderwys het ook die uitsluitsel kriteria (‘n uitsluitsel beteken ‘n persoon wie se aansoek nie oorweeg sal word nie) dit sluit in:
- Opvoeders wat die STEM-vakke aanbied (Wiskunde, Wetenskap, Tegnologie en Ingenieurswese vakke);
- Opvoeders wat Kodering en Robotika aanbied;
- Opvoeders wat Afrikaans as vak aanbied, maar ook opvoeders by skole waarvan die Taal van Onderrig en Leer Afrikaans is;
- Opvoeders wat die Kunsvakke aanbied;
- Opvoeders wat in die Grondslagfase skool hou; en
- Skoolgebaseerde terapeute, sielkundiges of beraders.
Lede wat dus van hierdie geleentheid gebruik wil maak en wat nie in een van die bogenoemde kategorieë val nie, word versoek om dokumente te voltooi en na distrikskantore deur te stuur of om dit in persoon in te handig voor of op 30 November 2025.
Hierdie program is van toepassing op werknemers tussen die ouderdom van 55 tot 59 (sonder penalisasie).
Die VAP-aansporing (vir kandidate wat vir hierdie program kwalifiseer) word soos volg uiteengesit:
- Twee (2) weke van basiese salaris per jaar vir die eerste twintig (20) jaar van pensioendraende diens; en
- Een (1) week se finansiële aansporing vir elke voltooide jaar van pensioendraende diens daarna.
Die Normale Aftree-aansporing (vir werknemers tussen die ouderdomme van 60 tot 63) wat kwalifiseer, word soos volg uiteengesit:
- Twee (2) weke van basiese salaris per jaar vir die eerste tien (10) jaar van pensioendraende diens; en.
- Een (1) week se finansiële aansporing vir elke voltooide jaar van pensioendraende diens daarna.
Werknemers wat MINDER as tien (10) jaar van pensioendraende diens het, sal nie oorweeg word nie.
‘n Voltooide aansoekvorm sal nie noodwendig goedkeuring verseker nie en eers nadat die Provinsiale Onderwysdepartement ‘n brief aan die werknemer gestuur het om die aansoek goed te keur, sal die drie maande kennisgewingperiode ‘n aanvang neem (verwys na Bylaag E).
Klik op die VAP-dokumente knoppie hieronder om die volgende dokumente af te laai:
- DPSA Omsendskrywe 38 van 2025;
- Bepaling en Direktief oor Aangespoorde Vervroegde Aftrede Program (sonder penalisering) en Vrywillige Uittreeprogram vir Werknemers in die Staatsdiens.
- Bylaag A: Aansoekvorm vir VAP en Normale Aftrede-Finansiële Aansporing;
- Bylaag D: Lys van vrae wat gereeld ontvang word; en
- Bylaag E: Vloeidiagram vir VAP en Vrywillige Uittreeprogram.
2025/11/18
LABOUR MATTERS
Early Retirement Programme (ERP)
The SAOU has already been proactive about this and many of your questions have been answered in a Zoom presentation from November 6, 2025.
To view it again:
The Department of Basic Education announced in the previous week that all provinces have been trained on the implementation of the Early Retirement Programme.
It was also announced that the final date of submission of applications will be 30 November 2025.
The Department of Basic Education also announced the criteria of exclusions (an exclusion refers to a category of person whose application will not be considered) this includes:
- Educators who offer the STEM subjects (Mathematics, Sciences, Technology and Engineering subjects);
- Educators who offer Coding and Robotics;
- Educators who offer Afrikaans as subject, but also educators at schools where the Language of Learning and Teaching is Afrikaans;
- Educators who offer Art subjects;
- Educators who teach in the Foundation Phase; and
- School based therapists, psychologists or counsellors
Members who would like to make use of the opportunity and who are not included in the exclusion list, are requested to complete the relevant documentation and to submit it to the district offices before or on 30 November 2025.
This programme is applicable to employees aged 55 to 59 (without penalisation).
The ERP incentive (for candidates who qualify in this programme) is explained as follows:
- Two (2) weeks of basic salary per year for the first twenty (20) years of pensionable service;
- One (1) week financial incentive for each completed year of pensionable service thereafter.
The Normal Retirement Incentive (for employees aged 60 to 63, who qualify) is explained as follows:
- Two (2) weeks of basic salary per year for the first ten (10) years of pensionable service;
- One (1) week financial incentive for each completed year of pensionable service thereafter
Employees with FEWER than ten (10) years of pensionable service are not eligible.
A completed application form does not ensure approval, and only after the Provincial Education Department has sent a letter to inform employees that the application has been approved, the three months’ notice period will start (refer to Annexure E).
Click on the ERP Documents button below to download the following documents:
- DPSA Circular 38 of 2025;
- Determination and Directive on Incentivised Early Retirement Programme (without pension penalties) and Voluntary Exit Programme for Employees in the Public Service.
- Annexure A: Application form for ERP and Normal Retirement Financial Incentive;
- Annexure D: Frequently Asked Questions; and
- Annexure E: Flowchart for ERP and Voluntary Exit Programme.
Staatsdiens Mediese Fonds-verhoging (GEMS)
In 2024 is die GEMS mediese fonds lede bydrae met ‘n ondenkbare bedrag verhoog. Die SAOU saam met ander unies, het baie sterk daarteen te velde getrek en aangedui dat verhogings sonder konsultasie nie weer in 2025 geduld sal word nie.
GEMS het in 2025 ‘n dag voor die verhogings die unies in kennis gestel dat daar weer ‘n verhoging van 9.8% geïmplementeer sal word.
Die SAOU, saam met ander unies, het ‘n amptelike beswaar teen die benadering van GEMS deur die PSCBC ingedien.
Die SAOU kan nie hierdie 9.8% verhoging ondersteun nie! Hierdie verhoging is dubbel wat as die huidige VPI aangedui word.
GEMS voer (soos in 2024) die volgende redes aan vir hierdie ekstreme verhoging:
- Die verhoogde koste van eisgeskiedenis;
- Sekere korrupte aktiwiteite deur lede om verhoogde eise in te dien; en
- Die verpligte reserwekoers van 25% moet gehandhaaf word.
DIE SIENING VAN DIE SAOU:
- In 2024 is die standpunt reeds geformuleer dat dit in die belang van lede is dat staatsdiensamptenare hulle eie mediese fonds behoort te kies.
- Dat lede gelyke subsidie moet ontvang vir die keuse van eie mediese fonds.
- Dat GEMS staatsdienswerkers “gyselaar” hou omdat daar geen alternatiewe keuse as GEMS is nie.
- Die SAOU het groter verantwoordbaarheid van die GEMS Raad vereis en dit getoon deur verskillende aksies om die verkiesing van Raadslede te ondersteun.
- Die SAOU kan nie die rede van verhoogde eise ondersteun nie.
Die SAOU beskou hierdie nie as die einde van die geveg nie, maar net die begin, en dwing op die volgende aan:
- Duidelike en deursigtige kommunikasie deur GEMS voordat verhogings geïmplementeer word.
- Bekostigbare produkte vir lede en verbetering van lede voordele.
- Dat unies nie net “ingelig” kan word van verhogings nie, maar dat duidelike konsultasie betyds sal plaasvind.
Government Employees Medical Scheme increase (GEMS)
In 2024 the GEMS medical aid member contributions were increased by an unrealistic amount. The SAOU, in collaboration with other unions, reacted strongly against the increase and indicated that increases without consultation would not be tolerated in 2025.
In 2025 GEMS informed unions a day before the increases were announced that a 9.8% increase would be implemented.
The SAOU, along with other unions, submitted a formal objection to the procedure of GEMS through the PSCBC.
The SAOU cannot support this increase of 9.8%. This increase is double the amount currently indicated as the CPI.
As in 2024 GEMS cited the following reasons for the extreme increase:
- The increased costs arising from the claim’s history;
- Certain corrupt activities by members in the submission of inflated claims; and
- That the 25% reserve ratio must be maintained.
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SAOU:
- In 2024 the perspective was formulated that it is in the best interest of members that public service employees should be able to choose their own medical aid.
- That members should be able to receive an equal subsidy for the medical aid of choice.
- That GEMS is currently holding public service employees “hostage” as they have no other alternative than GEMS.
- The SAOU requested more accountability by the GEMS Council and showed their commitment by supporting the election of GEMS Council members.
- The SAOU cannot support the reasons for the increase in member contributions.
The SAOU regards this not as the end of the confrontation, but as the beginning and is insisting on:
- Clear and transparent communication by GEMS before they are implemented.
- Cost-effective products for members and improvement of their member benefits.
- That labour cannot only be “informed” of increases but that clear consultation be concluded timeously.
Onduidelike en ongemagtigde aftrekkings
Tydens ‘n vergadering van die RAVO is daar kennis geneem dat lede regoor die land, opgemerk het dat daar aftrekkings op betaalstrokies is wat nie deur hulle goedgekeur is nie. Dit is baie belangrik dat lede hulle maandelikse betaalstrokie goed moet bestudeer en verseker dat alle aftrekkings goedgekeur is.
Toegelate aftrekkings:
- GEMS;
- GEPF (pensioen);
- Belasting;
- ELRC (RAVO);
- Die Unie van jou keuse (as die SAOU nie duidelik aangedui is nie, kontak u provinsiale kantoor);
- PSCBC;
- SARO (SACE);
- Versekering (deur jouself goedgekeur); en
- Goedgekeurde huislenings.
Unclear and unauthorised
deductions
During a meeting of the ELRC it was noted that members nationwide are noticing deductions on their payslips which they did not authorise. Some members have reported double deductions for existing institutions. It is of utmost importance that members scrutinise their monthly payslip and ensure that all deductions are authorised.
Permissible deductions:
- GEMS;
- GEPF (pension);
- Tax;
- ELRC;
- Union of choice (If SAOU is not indicated, contact your provincial office);
- PSCBC;
- SACE;
- Insurance policies (approved by yourself); en
- Approved home loans.
