Prime minister to get E139 000 salary

PRIME Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini is expected to benefit from the recently implemented salary review, which would see him earning a basic monthly salary of over E139 000.

The salary of the secretary to Cabinet and head of the public service was used as the benchmark for determining the premier’s salary, which was set at 50% higher than that of the secretary to Cabinet. Following the review, the secretary to Cabinet’s monthly basic salary would be E93 315.83, pushing the prime minister’s salary (basic) to E139 973.75.

| Eswatini Observer WhatsApp Channel

In line with the terms and conditions of employment, the salaries of all other parliamentarians, designated office bearers and the attorney general are calculated as a ratio of the prime minister’s salary.
The deputy prime minister will receive ratio 0.95 of the PM’s salary, amounting to E132 975.06 per month.

Presiding officers, Cabinet ministers and the attorney general will each receive ratio 0.85 of the PM’s salary, placing their basic monthly earnings at E118 977.69. These salaries are aligned according to their employment terms.
Regional administrators, whose salaries are determined at a ratio of 0.75 to the PM’s salary, will now earn E104 980.31, while deputy presiding officers (ratio 0.70) will receive E97 981.63 monthly.

ALSO READ: MPs’ salaries to reach E69 000

According to Circular No. 2 of 2024, parastatals had been instructed to halt the implementation of restructuring and salary review exercises until the finalisation of the civil service review.
Meanwhile, legislators, including members of parliament (MPs) and senators, will receive a basic monthly salary of E83 984.25, which is ratio 0.60 of the PM’s salary.

Salaries of those serving at constituency level including tindvuna tetinkhundla, would earn an improved to E15 397.64 (ratio 0.11 of the PM’salary), while bucopho betinkhundla will receive E12 597.64 (ratio 0.09 of the PM’s salary).
The recommended remuneration structure included a basic salary component subject to the provisions of the second schedule of the Income Tax Order of 1978 (as amended).

Government would also contribute additional amounts for benefits and allowances beyond the basic salary of these legislators.
“The salaries of all parliamentarians, designated office bearers and the attorney general will continue to be linked to those of the civil service through the secretary to Cabinet for the duration of the 12th Parliament,” read the conditions of their employment.

The salary ratios are based on the authoritative hierarchy of the political structure, which mirrors the administrative hierarchy of the State. This, according to the terms, was reflected in a ‘single spine’ salary structure, ensuring alignment across all three arms of government.

The document further states that the salaries of parliamentarians remain linked to those of civil servants, acknowledging that all arms of government must work together to implement the national development strategy.
“The driver in the implementation of this strategy is the civil service. Therefore, while the terms and conditions for parliamentarians and designated office bearers must be sufficient to attract qualified individuals to Parliament, they must also remain fair in comparison to civil servants and sustainable within the prevailing economic conditions,” the circular reads.

Attendance requirements are also outlined in the terms, whereby attendance at official parliamentary activities was regulated by the presiding officer of each chamber of parliament. Failure to do so would lead to their salaries being deducted.

“A member’s absence from Parliament for more than five days in any calendar month, outside of an authorised recess, will result in a salary deduction corresponding to the number of days absent,” reads the regulations.

New Salary Scale for Parliamentarians and Designated Office Bearers

Eswatini Observer Press Reader  | View Here