It is D-day for the much awaited salary review report.
Public sector unions (PSUs) have been looking forward to today, where the salary review report is expected to be delivered by the consultant that had been engaged by government to conduct an exercise that will inform her how to go about paying civil servants reviewed salaries.
The consultant, Umelusi Capital, a local entity that had partnered with Emergence Growth, signed a contract with the ministry of public service on July 1, 2024, and all works towards the exercise were scheduled to not exceed a period of 12 months.
The consultant was scheduled to present a comprehensive report today.
The PSUs; Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) and the government negotiations team (GNT) met at the joint negotiations forum (JNF). The PSUs leadership said during the meeting they were updated on the status of the salary review report by the GNT. They said it was unanimously resolved that the PSUs should have consultation meetings in the country’s regions.
“The meetings shall solicit a mandate from the general membership of the unions on the next course of action regarding the salary review. The meetings will be on Monday and Tuesday (today and tomorrow),” the PSUs said. Last Wednesday, the PSUs had informed their membership that during consultative meetings that they had with the consultant and the Management Services Department (MSD) in Mhlume last Monday, the consultant hinted on an extension of the salary review exercise by four months. “According to the consultant, the report is incomplete because there are some government departments that failed to meet the consultant,” the PSUs said.
They further claimed that the consultant requested an extension of four months, meaning that the new completion date would be in October if the extension was granted. However, the PSUs said their response to the request was that the consultant should register the extension through the GNT at the JNF where issues relating to the salary review were deliberated. “Therefore, despite the request, we are still patiently waiting for June 30, which is the deadline of submitting the salary review report. Government has been insisting that on June 30, she is going to deliver and also pay the salary review this year,” said Lot Vilakati who is SNAT Secretary General (sg).
SNAGAP Phumzile Masilela added that while the consultant had expressed the need for additional time to complete the report, they did not consider it because the request had to be made at the right forum. Umelusi Capital Executive Director Thabo Magagula said he was not authorised to speak to the media about issues around the salary review. Ministry of Public Service Principal Secretary Mthunzi Shabangu said he also heard from the grapevine that the consultant needed an extension. However, he said this matter would be discussed on the right forum being the JNF.
Eswatini Observer Press Reader
