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UFS amends the retirement age for all staff members to 65

10 December 2021 | Story Lacea Loader

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the retirement age of all staff members to 65 this week.

“The current retirement age for staff members of the UFS is 65 years for those appointed prior to 1 June 1998, and 60 years for those appointed after 1 June 1998. The Council’s decision to amend the retirement age to 65 comes after an extensive benchmarking process involving the university’s two labour unions, NEHAWU and UVPERSU, which requested that the retirement age of all staff members be adjusted to 65,” said Prof Francis Petesen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor.

This amendment brings the university in line with other universities and will assist in overcoming a negative impact on the recruitment and attraction of high-calibre academic and specialist staff.

Parallel to the amendment of the retirement age in the Conditions of Services, the university is also adapting the allocation of vacation leave. “We are currently facing a challenge in terms of the provision of the staff leave liability, which has a major financial implication for the UFS. In consultation with stakeholder unions the accumulation of vacation leave has been adjusted to a maximum of five days per year,” said Prof Petersen.

The new retirement age to 65 and the adjusted accumulated vacation leave days will be affected from 1 January 2022. Staff who are set to retire on 31 December 2021 may opt to continue to the age 65. This amendment will not apply to staff that may have already retired.

Adjusted vacation as from 1 January 2022:

Academic staff:

Current number of vacation days: 42

Approved Leave Days

Number of vacation days: 30

Additional research leave days: 12 (non-cumulative and expires at the end of each calendar year)

Support staff:

Deputy Director and higher levels

Peromnes Level: 1 – 6

Current number of leave vacation days: 36

Approved number of vacation days: 30

Assistant Director to Officer

Peromnes Level: 7 – 14

Current number of leave vacation days: 30 - 28

Approved number of vacation days: 28

Service Workers

Peromnes Level: 15 - 18

Current number of leave vacation days: 24

Approved number of vacation days: 24

News Archive

Statement in the media on 14 January 2016 by national student structures about national student protests

2016-01-15

The University of the Free State takes cognisance of the decision by national student structures on 14 January 2016 that protests should stop and students return to studies. Here are selections from a transcription of the press conference, followed by a link to the full and complete transcript:

“The PYA calls for Back to School... The Progressive Youth Alliance, Sasco, YCL, ANC Youth League, call upon students from all walks of life to use the systems provided by government and not delay their future any longer unnecessarily. There is no reason at all for strikes to continue when people's government has addressed the main immediate concerns of students...

“Members of PYA, Sasco, ANC Youth League, and the Young Communist League, and all progressive forces, should defend the interests and gains of students who marched genuinely for FeesMustFall last year. They must make sure that students are on the concession provided by government and go back to class and wait for the report from the commission [on free higher education recently established by President Zuma]...

“Students should be decisive and reject dark forces that seek to delay them further, and students should play their part by ensuring that they focus on their academic studies, and take the opportunity provided through this additional loans and bursaries to successfully complete their studies...

“Students can no longer delay their studies. They must be allowed to write their examinations - those who did not write last year - and those who need to register, must register and go back to class. We will regroup ten months into the year when the report of free higher education has been released, to consider its content...

“Fees have indeed fallen, access must rise, and all students must go back to school.”

Link to complete transcript: http://ow.ly/X5ViR

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