GOVT’S WAGE BILL FOR SIX MONTHS SHOOTS TO E3.5BN

MBABANE – It has always been an open secret that the constant hiring in the uniformed forces increases the wage bill, however, government has finally revealed the figures.

In total, government’s wage bill depicts an amount of about E3.5 billion for a period of six months and this could translate to approximately a total of E7 billion at the end of the 2017/18 financial year.  The Ministry of Public Service has revealed that over a period of six months (April – September 2017), five government departments received the biggest chunk of the budget and on top of the list was the Ministry of Education and Training, which attracted a wage bill of roughly E1.4 billion.

The Ministry of Defence was second in place with a wage bill of E454.6 million followed by the Ministry of Health at E434.2 million.
Making up the top five was the Royal Swaziland Police, which attracted a wage bill of E420.1 million and His Majesty’s Correctional Services at E187.9 million.

The Public Service ministry in its second quarter performance report for the financial year stated that the new figures show an increase of about E400 million from an actual spending of E6.6 billion that was attained during the 2016/17 financial year.
The report states that a noticeable increase of basic salary was in the month of June, which was attributable to the increase in basic salaries of E3 million under the police department.

“This increase is a result of the increase of 582 police personnel (head count) under the same month,” reads the report.
The month of July also saw an increase of E6 million in basic salaries attributable to 1 040 additional staff employed under the month.
Of the above, 984 were hired by the Ministry of Defence and Security.

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