General

MBABANE – The least-paid civil servant will get about E4 705 more this month as the salary review implementation begins.

This is because on the implementation modalities, it was agreed that in respect of salary grades or bands that do not have any recommended upward adjustment and those that have been downgraded as per the recommendations of the Salary Review Report, the parties agreed that a once-off payment, calculated at five per cent of an annual basic salary, be paid to these workers in October 2025.

This means that employees paid under job grade A2, notch 5 who were last month paid E5 105.17 (E61 262.04 annually) will this month be paid E4 508.33 (E54 099.96 annually). With the five per cent once-off payment of their new annual salary, they shall get E2 705. This is because salary bands A and B will transition on a notch-to-notch basis, meaning employees will move directly from their current notch in the old grade to the corresponding notch in the new grade structure.

In addition to this, the revised housing allowance as per the salary review report should be implemented in full for salary bands A and B, respectively. This means that in addition to the E2 705 which is five per cent once-off; they shall also get E2 000, excluding the bus fare allowances as revised in accordance with the salary review report as it shall be implemented in full, effective October 2025.

On the other hand, Secretary to Cabinet Victor Nxumalo will get E30 835.20 as backpay this month, following the collective agreement awarding civil servants 15 per cent of the first six months of this financial year.

Ordinarily, he would have received E205 567.98; however, the agreement permits that along with his October remuneration, he gets the aforementioned amount as the balance of E174 732.78 will be due to him in July 2026.

This is because the collective agreement on Article 8 reads: “Government commits to pay 15 per cent of the six months backpay (April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025) of the recommended salary adjustments as contained in Scenario III on the October 2025 pay day. The 85 per cent remaining backpay balances shall be paid during the first month (July 2026) of the second quarter of the financial year 2026/2027.”

The collective agreement was signed yesterday evening by the Government Negotiations Team (GNT) with the Public Sector Unions (PSUs), namely: National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Eswatini Nursing Association (ENA) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).

The appending of the collective agreement followed negotiations in the Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) which started at around 10am and concluded at around 6pm as they commenced negotiations on the implementation modalities of the Salary Review Report recommendations.

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Next review in 2030

MBABANE – The next public service salary review will be implemented in 2030, maintaining the five-year interval.

This was stated during a press briefing at the Ministry of Public Service Conference Room. It was also said that an appeals procedure will be elaborated in the Establishment Circular implementing the salary grades structure.

Furthermore, it was said that the collective agreement between the employer and civil servants shall be binding upon all parties and will be registered with the Industrial Court in accordance with Part VII of the Industrial Relations Act No. 1 of 2000 (as amended).

It was also emphasised that the settlement of differences arising out of the interpretation, application and administration of the collective agreement shall be referred to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC), in case internal engagements within the JNF are unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the housing issue pertaining to workers who are stationed in government farms and projects is referred to bilateral negotiations between the Government Negotiations Team (GNT) and National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) for further consideration and resolution.

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Review concluded, to be reported to Cabinet

MBABANE – The employer says the salary review agreement is concluded and will be reported to Cabinet.

The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Mthunzi Shabangu, who is also the Government Negotiations Team (GNT) Chief Negotiator, said they had reached an agreement with the Public Sector Unions (PSUs) representatives. The PSUs represent a fraction of the 44 000 civil servants, as well as the employer. Shabangu said he could not expand much on the issue as they were yet to report to Cabinet.

*Full article available in our publication.

Public Sector Unions leaving the Ministry of Public Service after the signing of the Salary Review Report last night. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)