(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and section 8, for the period of 5 years beginning on 1 July 2013 -

(a) no increment shall be awarded to a public servant; and

(b) the operation of the pay scale that applies in respect of a public servant shall stand suspended,

and with the effect that -

(i) the point on that pay scale that shall be applicable in respect of a public servant on 1 July 2018 shall be that which was applicable on 1 July 2013 in respect of him or her, and

(ii) the operation of that pay scale, on and from 1 July 2018, shall be by reference to service of the public servant on and from 1 July 2018, but this is subject to subsection (2).

(2) Subsection (1)(b)(ii) does not operate to exclude for the purpose of the operation of the pay scale so much of the service of the public servant, before 1 July 2013, as would have been reckoned for the purpose of the next immediate increment that, but for the suspension of the pay scale by virtue of subsection (1), would have fallen to be awarded to him or her on or after 1 July 2013.