PUBLIC sector unions (PSUs) have accused government of blatant disrespect after politicians walked away with hefty salary hikes while ordinary civil servants were given meagre adjustments.
The unions; NAPSAWU, SWADNU, SNAGAP and SNAT say the move exposes government’s disregard for its workers.
MPs saw their pay jump by E32 000, taking salaries from E54 743 to E83 984, while many civil servants received just a 1% adjustment.
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NAPSAWU acting Secretary General Msimeto Malindzisa labelled the disparity “daylight robbery.” He said junior staff, including cleaners and groundsmen, were insulted with token increases and partial backpay. Civil servants received only 15% of arrears, with the remaining 85% delayed until July next year.
“Those in power are giving each other a lot of money, while others are getting nothing. This is an insult to workers,” Malindzisa said, warning of “more vigorous exercises” to force government to take unions seriously.
SWADNU Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane echoed the anger, saying the raises showed that politicians were looking after themselves while sidelining the very workers who keep government machinery running.
“The most painful part is that those who keep the system alive received next to nothing,” Masangane said. Both leaders questioned why uniformed forces were allowed to maintain their salary notches while civil servants were denied the same.
They vowed to reopen negotiations, insisting the salary review must be restarted from scratch.
Meanwhile, SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati said the implementation of the salary review reflected serious imbalances, with some individuals receiving higher adjustments despite contributing less to the economy. He noted that this undermined the work of the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) and the broader civil service, as many dedicated workers were overlooked.
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Vilakati said civil servants played a critical role in sustaining the economy, yet trained professionals were sidelined in favour of others. He added that the lack of recognition for education was discouraging, with some pupils opting to leave school for opportunities in the army as education was not being adequately valued.
“We are still finalising the report, there are many issues we will raise with the consultant and the ministry of public service regarding the uneven implementation of the salary review. Some workers earning E3 200 received no adjustment, while others were downgraded,” he said.
Vilakati further highlighted concerns that certain sectors were spared from downgrades, creating inconsistencies. He said unions would continue monitoring the process closely and expected government to address the wage bill fairly, ensuring cuts were made where they were most justified.
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