Above-inflation wage increase for Eskom employees

Eskom announced today that the utility reached an agreement with trade unions for a 7% salary increase for all non-managerial Eskom employees over a three-year period.

The utility and trade unions National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity reached this agreement through its Central Bargaining Forum process. 

The 7% increase will be effective from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026. In addition, the parties agreed to a 7% increase in the housing allowance over the three-year period and a once-off taxable payment of R10,000 for the first two years.

Eskom’s Acting Group Chief Executive, Calib Cassim, said, “The collective agreement will go a long way in stabilising our organisation by providing Eskom with sufficient space and time to collaboratively work together to urgently address our most pressing challenges.”

“It is worth noting that this is the first time in more than a decade that the parties have reached an agreement in the room.”

This agreement follows a lengthy wage negotiation process, with some trade unions demanding up to 15% wage increases for Eskom employees.