Following confusion over the ‘Dvuladvula’ salary calculations, government has admitted to possible errors, particularly in the taxation of some civil servants’ October pay.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said the discrepancies would be addressed promptly.
This comes after public sector unions (PSUs) voiced their frustration over the salary review process, citing poor implementation and a lack of transparency. After a week of anxious waiting, civil servants finally received their salaries on Monday, following government’s announcement that payday had been moved to October 27.
But relief quickly turned to frustration. Many workers were shocked by reduced take-home pay after the long-awaited salary review. Rijkenberg admitted that the implementation was rushed, which may have led to errors in tax calculations.
He explained that confusion stemmed from how backpay, the accumulated salary difference from previous months, was processed. The lump sum pushed some employees into higher tax brackets, triggering unexpectedly steep deductions under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system.
RELATED: ‘Dvuladvula’ confusion: Unions slam lack of transparency in salary review
“PAYE is based on thresholds. If those are exceeded, higher tax rates apply. The process was rushed. The team did their best, but I must admit, there might be mistakes,” the minister said.
He urged affected civil servants to come forward, assuring them that the Treasury and Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) would investigate and correct any errors.
Reports indicated that employees who typically fall under the 25% tax bracket were taxed at 33% due to the backpay, significantly shrinking their net pay.
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has led calls for clarity.
Secretary General Lot Vilakati said they were still waiting for government to release the establishment circular, which would confirm whether salaries and deductions were processed correctly.
“Some civil servants were placed in the wrong tax bracket. There are clear cases of over-taxation,” Vilakati said.
While acknowledging the complexity of the process, Vilakati emphasised the need for accuracy and transparency.
“Government must ensure every civil servant is paid correctly. Releasing the circular would go a long way in restoring trust.”
The salary review was meant to boost morale after years of stagnant wages.
Ex-civil servants eligible for salary adjustments
ALL former public officers who exited the service before receiving salary adjustments but fall within the effective date of the new Establishment Circular will be paid up to their last day of service.
This provision is outlined in Establishment Circular Number 2 of 2025, issued on Tuesday by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Mthunzi Shabangu.
The circular, effective April 1, operationalises the collective agreement signed on October 15, between government and relevant stakeholders.
It confirms that the Paterson System of Job Evaluation was adopted and endorsed by all PSUs as the preferred method for the 2025 salary review.
All established positions were reassessed, resulting in a new salary grading and pay structure. Grades A4 and A5 have been discontinued to promote consistency across the framework.
Under the conversion process: officers whose positions remain unchanged will move to the first notch of the new pay structure, officers in Grades A and B will transition notch-for-notch and if an officer’s current salary exceeds the new grade’s allocation, they will retain their salary as a personal right until alignment occurs.
Government had committed to paying 15% of salary arrears (April 1–September 30) on the October payday.
The remaining 85% will be disbursed in July, 2026, marking the start of the second quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.
For officers whose positions were downgraded or did not receive upward adjustments, a one-time payment equivalent to 5% of annual basic salary will be issued in October.
Additional benefits included: revised housing allowance of E2 000 per month for Grades A and B starting October 1. Grades C to F will receive the full allowance beginning July, 2026. Revised bus fare allowance of E0.76/km, capped at E1 200 per month, effective October 1.
The circular acknowledges potential errors during implementation and instructed controlling officers to report anomalies in writing. It emphasises fairness, no officer will lose a rightful benefit or gain an undue advantage due to administrative mistakes.
This circular supersedes all previous correspondence regarding public service salary structures and grading.
Appeals may be submitted within 30 working days through the relevant controlling officer, and must be based on valid grounds such as new information or significant changes in job scope.
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