GITEGA March 4th (ABP) – The Cabinet meeting, held on March 2, 2022, in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi (center), appreciated the content of the draft salary policy and adopted it with certain recommendations, after the press release sanctioning the said Cabinet meeting.
The concern of the project in question is, on the one hand, to rebuild a dynamic equity system for the remuneration of civil servants and, on the other hand, to support the reforms already undertaken, according to the same press release.
The Secretary General of the State and Spokesperson, Mr. Prosper Ntahorwamiye, who made it public on March 3, 2022, provided details on these recommendations. The first says that the value of the index point “45” must be considered in the calculations to be made, because the application of the value “28” would cause a reduction in the salaries of certain civil servants. The second, meanwhile, indicates that the amount of 125 billion Burundian francs planned to implement this wage policy will be spread over 10 years and not over 5 years. For this, the press release continues, an amount of 12.5 billion Burundian francs will be made available each year for 9 years, with the possibility of it being increased mid-term if resources permit.
Regarding the amount of 34 billion Burundian francs which was planned to be used this year, only 25 billion Burundian francs will be used, and the remaining 9 billion will constitute a base which will be completed for next year, according to the third recommendation.
A note on the disparities in the granting of end-of-career allowances was also among the files analyzed by the board. Mr. Ntahorwamiye informed that the present note follows the request for an authorization for the regularization of end-of-career allowances in favor of the staff units having been retired from ISABU and the staff members of the former institutions of the SIP, ECOSAT, the national laboratory of buildings and public works and the SETEMU which gave birth to the OBUHA and whose career ended in 2020.
After analysis of the note, observations and recommendations were formulated. Given the salary policy currently being applied and the promulgation of the law which will govern retirement, the press release indicates that this regularization is not justified. He adds that this measure of suspension must be applicable to the other institutions which continue to give end-of-career allowances whereas the current texts prohibit it.
The Cabinet meeting also discussed the file relating to the sectoral strategy of the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research. The press release above explains that this strategy was designed to respond to the difficulties and challenges encountered in this sector, while placing particular emphasis on the strengths of the Burundian education system. Also, he continues, it is based on a diagnosis of the national education system and scientific research, in order to be able to set priorities in its implementation.