We this morning received representation from students and 
service workers at a time when Council met today to discuss two issues, namely student debt and insourcing of services.
The decisions I am going to be sharing with you are the outcome of these deliberations.
NMMU Council has resolved to commit the University to ending outsourcing of service workers as this practice leads to exploitation of labour and unethical practices not in line with NMMU’s core values.
As the process of preparing for in-sourcing of service labour is underway, and as a measure of goodwill, Council has instructed management to put into place the following immediate relief measures:
* Across the board minimum wage guaranteed to each service worker of R5000 per month cost to company.
* The new minimum wage level will come into effect on 1 December 2015 until service workers in key sectors are in-sourced;
* During the university shut-down period, such workers will continue to receive the same level of pay and benefits;
* Study benefits currently available to NMMU permanent staff will be available to all service workers employed in outsourced companies;
* Staff currently employed in outsourced services will have access to university clinic services for medical treatment.
Council furthermore commits the University management to immediately work with representatives of organized labour, students and workers employed in outsourced companies at NMMU on a process towards in-sourcing contracts of service workers. These steps must include, among others, possible renegotiation of current contracts without putting job security at risk and limiting financial losses, and phasing in-sourcing of service contracts from the beginning of 2016.
Turning to student debt demands, Council has determined for 2015 the following measures for immediate implementation:
* debt relief for all NSFAS students with zero-EFC (expected family contributions);
* debt relief for all NSFAS-eligible students with outstanding balances;
* debt relief for students falling in the ‘missing middle’ income brackets who are academically deserving;
* removal of the requirement for upfront payment for students falling in the ‘missing middle’ income bracket;
* to lift the threshold of qualification for financial assistance; and
* student representatives offered to assist to inform other students about this who have already left campus.
Council furthermore calls on Government to ensure an effective and adequate system for debt relief for students from financially-disadvantaged backgrounds and that this be put into place for 2016 and beyond to ensure access of the poor to University education. Council has also instructed the University management to expand mobilization of funding from external sources to support poor students wishing to study at post-graduate levels in 2016 and beyond.
Judge Ronnie Pillay
Chairperson, NMMU Council