Pretoria – The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that collective wage hike agreements at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) were valid and must be paid.
The ruling was handed down on Wednesday, (22 November 2023), by the high court, which affirmed the validity of the collective agreement.
The court also ruled that SARS must implement the 2.3% salary increase with retrospective effect from 1 April 2021.
The High Court also ordered SARS to pay the PSA’s legal fees in this regard.
Commenting on the ruling, the Public Servants Association (PSA) said it “underscores the court’s commitment to upholding the terms of employment agreements and ensuring fair treatment of public-sector employees”.
The PSA initiated legal action after SARS failed to fully implement a three-year multi-term salary agreement in 2021.
The PSA said it views this ruling as a resounding victory for the union members and a reinforcement of the principle that contractual commitments must be honoured consistently.
“The PSA remains steadfast in its dedication to advocate for the rights and interests of its members, fostering a fair and equitable work environment,” said the union, which represents more than 5 200 SARS employees.
“The PSA calls on the Commissioner of SARS to implement the 2.3%-salary shortfall without any further delays and not to waste taxpayers’ money any further by lodging a review application.”
