NN 21/2025
VERVROEGDE AFTREDE PROGRAM 2025
In Nasionale Nuusbrief 10 van 2025 is daar verwys na die Vervroegde Aftrede Program (VAP) wat in die vooruitsig gestel is vir 2025.
Hierdie aangeleentheid word tans in beide die Staasdiens Koördinerende Bedingingsraad (SKBR) en die Raad op Arbeidsverhoudinge in die Onderwys (RAVO) onder die loep geneem.
Waar is die proses nou?
Prosesse in die SKBR het Donderdag, 23 Julie 2025 formeel afgesluit. Hierdie saak is nie voorgelê vir onderhandeling nie, maar vir die nodige konsultasie met die werkgewer. Die implikasie daarvan is dat ingevolge die Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge (WAV) se Afdeling 16, die werkgewer ‘n verpligting het om alle relevante inligting beskikbaar te stel, veral waar vrywillige uitdienstrede ter sprake is.
Vakbonde het ‘n finale versoek gestel dat die volgende inligting betreffende die program verskaf moet word:
- Datums vir die aanvang van die program; en
- Dispuutresolusie.
Hierdie sake is egter nie aangespreek nie en vakbonde kon nie verder vorder nie. Alhoewel die werkgewer daarop aangedring het dat ‘n voorgestelde resolusie onderteken moes word, het die unies besluit om nie hierdie resolusie te teken nie.
Die werkgewer het egter aangedui dat die implementering van die VAP sal voortgaan, maar die volgende aspekte is onderskryf:
- Geen werknemer sal verplig word om hierdie program te volg nie;
- Geen werknemer wat wel ‘n keuse uitoefen om aan hierdie program deel te neem, sal hierdeur benadeel word nie; en
- Aansoeke sal noukeurig oorweeg word. Die implikasie daarvan is dat aansoekers nie outomaties moet aanvaar dat hulle aansoek suksesvol sal wees nie.
Gaan ander kriteria gebruik word vir onderwysers as in die res van die Staatsdiens?
Die proses in die RAVO is egter spesifiek op onderwys afgespits. Hierdie prosesse is op die oomblik nog net voorlopig en is nog nie formeel deur hetsy die werkgewer of vakbonde aanvaar nie. Die huidige oorwegings is:
- Kritiese poste, insluitend hoofde, adjunkhoofde, Graad 12-personeel, en inheemse-taalsprekende grondslagfase opvoeders, sal nie as prioriteit oorweeg word nie;
- Dat die aantal beskikbare aansoeke van 15,000 oor ‘n twee jaar periode na 7,500 oor twee jaar periode verminder is;
- Dat personeel tussen die ouderdom van 55 en 59 sal oorweeg word;
- Dat lede nie moet aanneem dat die aansoeke outomaties toegestaan sal word nie, maar dat elke aansoek versigtig oorweeg sal word;
- Indien aansoeke vir die VAP nie goedgekeur word nie sal die normale reëls vir vervroegde pensioen geld. Dit beteken dat 0,3% afgetrek vir elke oorblywende maand tussen die huidige ouderdom en die werklike aftree-ouderdom (dus die maand waarin die lid 60 word); en
- Hierdie program is slegs beskikbaar vir persone wat deur die Staat aangestel is.
Indien ek belangstel in die VAP, wat staan my te doen?
- Wag vir die amptelike proses om afgekondig te word.
- Voordat u aansoek doen is dit van kardinale belang dat u, u vergewis van die finansiële implikasies.
Die SAOU provinsiale kantore sal u op hoogte hou soos die proses ontvou.
2025/07/30
EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAMME 2025
In National Newsletter 10 of 2025 reference was made to the Early Retirement Programme (ERP) which has been proposed for 2025.
This issue is currently under consideration in both the Public Service Co-Ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
Where is the process now?
Processes in the PSCBC were formally concluded on Thursday, 23 July 2025. This programme was not proposed for negotiation purposes, but only for necessary consultation between the employer and labour. In terms of Section 16 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA), the implication is thus that the employer has an obligation to make all relevant information available, especially where voluntary reason for leaving the service is involved.
Labour made a final request that the following information regarding the program be provided:
- Timelines for the rollout of the programme; and
- Dispute resolution procedures.
The employer, however did not address these issues and the unions could not make any further progress. Although the employer insisted that a draft resolution should be signed, Labour reached a decision not to sign this resolution.
The employer indicated that the implementation of the ERP will commence, but provided the assurance that the following will be taken into account:
- No employee will be forced to take part in the ERP;
- No employee who decides to participate in ERP will be negatively affected by this decision; and
- All applications will be subject to approval. The implication is that applicants should not automatically accept that their application will be successful and employees will have to ensure that applications are approved before exiting the system
Will the criteria used for educators differ from those for the rest of the Public Service?
These processes within the ELRC are specifically focused on education. These processes are currently provisional and have not been formally accepted by either the employer or unions. The current considerations are:
- Critical posts, including principals, deputy principals, Grade 12 staff members and African language speaking Foundation Phase educators, will not be considered as a priority;
- That the number of available applications has decreased from 15,000 over a two-year period to 7,500 over a two-year period;
- That employees between the ages of 55 and 59 will be considered;
- That members should not assume that if they submitted an application, that it will be automatically accepted. Every application will be carefully considered;
- If an application for the ERP is not approved, the usual rules for early retirement will apply. Meaning that 0,3% will be deducted for every remaining month between your current age and the actual retirement age (thus the month in which the member will turn 60); and
- This programme is only applicable to employees appointed by Government.
What should I do if I am interested in the ERP?
- Wait for the formal process to be announced.
- It is of cardinal importance that before you apply you make sure you are informed about the financial implications
The SAOU provincial offices will keep you informed as the process unfolds.
SAOU 2024/25
GEOUDITEERDE FINANSIËLE STATE
Die ouditproses van die SAOU finansiële jaar 2024/25 is afgehandel. Neem asb. kennis van die volgende:
- Die geouditeerde finansiële state is soos in die verlede weereens skoon en ongekwalifiseerd.
- Die state is ‘n opgesomde weergawe, maar indien lede die volledige state wil besigtig, kan dit aangevra word by die SAOU finansiële afdeling (accounts@saou.co.za).
- Dit is ook verblydend om te rapporteer dat al die geouditeerde finansiële state van al die regsentiteite wat deel vorm van die breër SAOU-Groep, ook almal skoon en ongekwalifiseerd is.
Klik hier vir die SAOU se verkorte gouditeerde finansiële state.
SAOU 2024/25
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audit process of the SAOU financial year 2024/25 has been completed. Please take note of the following:
- The audited financial statements, as in the past, are clean and unqualified.
- The statements are an abridged version, but if members would like to see the full version, it can be requested from the SAOU financial department (accounts@saou.co.za).
- It can also be reported that the audited financial statements of all the juristic persons that form part of the broader SAOU Group, also received clean and unqualified audits.
Click here
for the shortened audited financial statements of the SAOU.
