Public Universities' bid to raise the retirement age of all its staff members has been rejected by the Ministry of Education.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education announced that the proposal to change the retirement age in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was null and void.
The institutions wanted the age of academic staff raised from 70 to 75 while the non-teaching staff from 60 to 65.
The University Education Principal Secretary Professor Colette Suda has announced the suspension of the clause to pave way for the deliberation on the same before a final decision can be reached.
She said that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had questioned the motive behind the decision of the Public Universities to make the proposal.
She argued that it is important for the institutions to consult all the relevant authorities before the implementation of the clause.
“The Public Service Commission Draft Regulation, 2018, provides the retirement age as 60 years, and 65 years for persons with disability, and such age as determined by the PSC for lecturers and scientists serving in public universities, research institutions as determined by the commission in consultation with the relevant public bodies,” reads the letter.
Suda further said that there are different bodies that should be consulted before the decision. The public universities have been lamenting over the retirement age of the staff. The SRC commission is, however, against the decision on the grounds that it will be a burden to settle their salaries.