MBABANE – Government and public sector unions (PSUs) are set to sit down and engage on negotiations again regarding notching.
The PSUs are namely: National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nursing Union (SWADNU) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP).
They represent a fraction of the over 44 000 civil servants across all cadres and they have had a back and forth with the employer in the past fortnight as they demand the implementation of notching.Notching means moving to the next level of remuneration within their grade.
In the last sitting, which was on April 15, 2026, the employer, represented by the Government Negotiations Team (GNT) relayed to the PSUs that notching could not be implemented as there were insufficient funds.
The GNT conveyed to the PSUs, during the last joint negotiations forum (JNF) that the employer had sought funding for the implementation of the second implementation of the salary review of 2025.
However, the PSUs were adamant that notching should be implemented as they supposed it is their right enshrined in the General Orders governing their terms of employment.
Despite this, the employer conveyed that notching could not be implemented as per their collective agreement which was signed on October 15, 2025, when it was agreed that they were to get 15 per cent of their dues.
The employer reasoned that in the salary review process, they had sought that its implementation be spread across two financial years on the basis of limited financial resources.
This point of departure led to the PSUs seeking to deliver a petition to the Office of the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini and the Mabulala Maseko-led Ministry of Public Service.
However, this quest fell through and subsequently, the executive of PSUs sought to deliver a petition at their employer’s offices (Ministry of Public Service), which also did not take off as the police said it was an illegal act and disturbing government machinery.
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Public servants listening to reports from their leaders at the SNAT Centre. (Courtesy pic)