MPs Push PSC to Enforce One-Third Salary Rule for Public Servants

Members of Parliament have asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) to take action and ensure government workers are not left with very little salary after deductions.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised this concern during a meeting held in Parliament on Thursday, April 2. The committee said there is an urgent need for clear rules to make sure all public servants follow the one-third salary rule.

What MPs Are Saying

The one-third rule means that every employee must take home at least one-third of their basic salary after all deductions. MPs warned that many government workers are currently earning less than this amount.

The issue came up when the committee met State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito while reviewing reports from the Auditor-General for the financial years ending June 2024 and June 2025.

According to the audit report for the 2023/2024 financial year, at least 78 State House employees were taking home salaries below the legal limit due to high deductions.

Law on Salary Deductions

This rule is guided by Section 19(3) of the Employment Act, 2007. The law states that total deductions from an employee’s salary should not go beyond two-thirds of their basic pay.

In simple terms, workers must retain at least one-third of their salary after deductions like loans, advances, or other payments.

Concern Over Repeated Cases

PAC Chairperson Tindi Mwale, who is also the MP for Butere, said the problem is not only affecting State House but also many other government offices.

He explained that the issue keeps happening and needs a permanent solution.

Mwale urged the PSC to create strong policies and rules that will stop employers from allowing excessive deductions.

Why Salaries Are Reduced

The committee noted that many deductions come from:

Bank loans
Salary advances
Check-off systems
Court-ordered payments

These deductions sometimes become too high, leaving workers with very little money to survive on.

Government Response

State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito told the committee that steps have already been taken to reduce the number of affected workers.

He said the number has dropped from 78 employees to 14. He added that the figure is expected to go down to only four employees by the end of the month.