Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-03-29 04:00:53
They were among the headmasters promoted between December 2019 and November 2020. However, due to disputes before the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (PBAT), they were unable to enjoy the salary benefits attached to the position until their retirement. The tribunal, however, ruled in their favor in November 2022, recommending that their benefits be restored. Almost two years later, they are still waiting.
Anxiety, discouragement, anger… These are the feelings that 57 retired former headmasters are experiencing as they await adjustments to their salary and retirement benefits for almost two years. In December 2019, there was a first promotion of 160 Headmasters. Five more similar exercises took place until November 2020. As is often the case following promotions in the education sector, disputes were lodged with the PBAT.
With the restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the hearings were delayed. It wasn’t until late 2021 and June 2022 that the arguments were finally heard. In November 2022, a final judgment was delivered, siding with the Public Service Commission and co-defendants. As a result, the new headmasters were confirmed in their positions.
However, during this time, 57 of them had already reached retirement age. They left the service without being able to enjoy the salary benefits of Headmaster, the position to which they had been promoted. Inevitably, there were also repercussions on the Lump Sum calculation. Following the PBAT judgment, the Headmasters Union made representations to the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service so that those who had retired could receive compensation.
A high-level committee was set up at the Civil Service Ministry to address this issue. It was decided that salaries and retirement benefits would be calculated according to the scales of the headmaster’s position for all those who had served for at least six months after their temporary appointment.
A letter dated January 3 from the Ministry of Education informs retirees: “We have recently been informed that since officers of this Ministry were promoted Headmasters in a temporary capacity for more than six months and did not require additional qualifications for their substantive appointment, they are eligible for retiring benefits on the salary attached to the post of Headmaster.” A second communication was to follow to provide details on the payment procedures. However, more than two months later, the former headmasters are still without news.
They are wondering how much longer the procedures will take, especially considering their age. Some of them do not enjoy good health, and two have already passed away since their retirement. Even though the widows have been informed that they will receive the necessary adjustments, the other former headmasters do not want to end up in the same situation.
One of them describes the current state of mind: “we are living a nightmare. We have worked for 40 to 45 years without being able to fully enjoy the fruits of our labor. We feel like we have been left behind.” The 2019 Headmasters promotion was the first based on selection. Previously, promotion was automatic based on seniority, which had caused a lot of grievances among those who were not promoted, especially those acting as Officers-in-Charge.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
