Public Sector Unions (PSUs) have expressed disappointment as they signed for E800 million worth of the salary review implementation with government.
This is despite that the consultants, Umalusi Partners and Emergence Growth, had recommended that implementing scenario three would cost E1.643 billion.
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PSUs had previously rejected the E800 million or anything short of E1.643 billion, urging government to cover the gap. Yesterday, the PSUs reiterated that this was not what they had been pushing and hoping for. However, they said when government insisted that it could not raise more money, they had no choice but to sign for what was tabled.
The unions finally signed a collective agreement to implement the long-awaited salary review. According to the agreement between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the PSUs, government has committed to full implementation of scenario three of the salary review.
This means that civil servants would be paid the salary adjustments as it was recommended by the consultant with effect from this month. The payment will be backdated to April.
The signing marks the culmination of extensive talks between GNT and four major public sector unions, the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland Democratic Nursing Union (SWADNU) and the Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).
Recommended
Under scenario three, the consultant had recommended that civil servants in pay grade C3 notch 5, with a pay progression of 16%, should get a 38% increment, which will translate to E206,422 per annum.
Related: PSUs reject E500m govt offer, phased implementation
This means the monthly basic salary of such a worker would be about E17,201, excluding allowances, an increase from the current E12,432, excluding allowances.
For pay grade C3 Notch 1, the consultant had recommended E183,404 per annum, which is about E15,283 per month, excluding allowances.
Explaining the nitty-gritties of the agreement, Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini explained that the agreement entailed that a majority of civil servants, even those currently on notch 5, would all start from notch 1 as recommended by the consultant.
“The consultant said we are going to move to the nearest notch. A majority of civil servants are on notch 5, except for a few who were recently hired by government and those who were promoted,” explained Dlamini, adding that the civil servants would then continue notching upward annually.
Also, the president said government had initially proposed not to effect back pay this month, but in July next year because of limited resources. Instead, he said government said the civil servants would be paid 50% of their housing allowances this month, and the rest in July 2026.
Unions
However, Dlamini said the unions suggested that government should not pay them the six months’ housing allowances now, but instead pay a certain percentage of the back pay this month.
“We agreed on 15% of the six months’ housing allowance back pay to be paid this month and the 85% in the next financial year, July 2026,” said Dlamini.
On another note, the president explained that the parties agreed that civil servants in pay grades A and B that had not received adjustments would get a once-off payment equivalent to 5% of their annual basic salary this month. These will also get their full housing allowances this month, while those in pay grades C to F will not get theirs until the second quarter of the next financial year.
Meanwhile, the parties agreed that revised bus fare allowances would also be fully implemented in October as per the consultant’s recommendation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Service Principal Secretary, Mthunzi Shabangu, said the GNT was yet to report to authorities on the latest development. He stated that the public would be briefed on the salary review matter in due course.
E853m to be implemented next year
With a balance of E853 million scheduled to be implemented in the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, PSUs bank their hopes on the binding nature of the collective agreement.
Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) President Dumile Dlamini said while the PSUs had signed for the collective agreement entailing that government would implement the salary review over two financial years, the unions were sceptical.
She said history had it that government sometimes did not honour its promises. However, SWADNU President Nokuthula Dlamini said the agreement should be binding for all parties and be registered with the Industrial Court in accordance with the Industrial Relations Act, 2000, as amended.
The parties agreed that the settlement of differences arising from the interpretation, application and administration of the agreement should be referred to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) in case internal engagements within the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) are unsuccessful.
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