General

MANZINI - Government has agreed to award civil servants, whose salaries were not impacted by the salary review exercise, a five per cent once-off payment and E2 000 as a housing allowance.

This was revealed by leaders of the Public Sector Unions (PSUs) of Swaziland during an urgent General Council (GC) meeting held yesterday at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre.

The meeting aimed to unpack what transpired during the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) on Wednesday and to recharge the mandate from the GC members.

The PSUs’ leadership, through SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini, stated that as per their earlier discussions with government and the consultant, government negotiation team (GNT) maintained that salaries for workers, whose positions have been downgraded, will not be reduced. Instead, the PSUs’ leaders said the downgrade will only affect new employees who will take up those positions.

It is worth noting that mainly workers whose positions have been downgraded and received either a negative or zero per cent pay rise fall under pay grade A and B.

The union leaders said government initially offered these workers a three per cent once-off payment. However, they argued with the GNT that since these are the least paid civil servants, government should at least give them a five per cent once-off payment and the GNT agreed.

Similarly, regarding housing allowance, PSUs’ leaders said these workers were initially supposed to receive E800. After arguing with the GNT that this amount was unfair given that they are the least paid in the public service and suggesting they should at least get E2 000, the GNT agreed.

Furthermore, they highlighted that there are civil servants who live in shacks and/or tents, yet the government refers to them as housed employees. In that regard, the unions suggested that there should be some financial provision for them.

They stated that these workers are mainly members of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), who work on farms. However, government then asked to deal with this matter in bilateral meetings with NAPSAWU, specifically on whether or not these workers should be classified as housed.

*…

Negotiations extend into the night

MBABANE – The negotiations extended into the night yesterday.

The negotiations between the Government Negotiation Team (GNT) and Public Sector Unions (PSUs) were still ongoing at 9:30pm at the Ministry of Public Service. This is despite that the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) started at 2pm after the meeting between the PSUs and their members at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre.

Civil servants reject E1.29bn offer, demand Scenario III

MANZINI - Civil servants have rejected the improved offer of E1.29 billion along with the proposed payment plan; instead, they demand full implementation of Scenario III recommendations.

The public sector workers, through the PSUs GC, stated this after SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini clarified that a salary review process differs from a cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA). A salary review is guided by a salary review report, whereas in CoLA talks, unions table a demand and the employer presents a counter-offer, initiating negotiations.

The unionist explained that in a salary review process, the scales are guided by job profiling, which is conducted by a professional consultant. Additionally, the president of the teachers’ union said when compiling the report and recommendations, the consultant also considers the country’s economic situation, including the employer’s affordability.

He further stated what the employer is supposed to do after receiving the salary review report, which recommends implementing Scenario III at a cost of E1.643 billion, is to raise the money and implement the recommendations as they are.

He added that the rule of a salary review is that as parties, they are not supposed to tamper with the recommendations, thus they did not want to hear how the government intended to implement the initial offer of E500 million.

*…

‘Convert 5 per cent once-off payment into CoLA’

MANZINI - Civil servants say the five per cent once-off payment for workers whose salaries were not impacted by the salary review should be converted into a cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA).

Through the PSUs GC members, the civil servants thanked the union leaders for successfully negotiating with government to increase the housing allowance for these workers from E800 to E2 000.

They also appreciate their leaders’ efforts in negotiating for the five per cent once-off payment, instead of the three per cent initially offered by the government.

However, they argued that generally, if some workers’ salaries are not impacted by a salary review, the employer should then give them CoLA. In that regard, they informed their leaders that the five per cent once-off payment should be converted to CoLA so that it can also have an impact on the workers’ pensions.

*Full article available in our publication.

SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati (R) addressing the PSUs GC members on behalf of the Secretariat during the meeting at SNAT Centre yesterday. (Pic: Sibusiso Zwane)