Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) has confirmed that discrepancies arising from the 2025 public sector salary review will be addressed before November salaries are processed.
Employees with concerns have been instructed to submit written complaints, supported by payslips, through their school-based SNAT representatives.
The Joint Negotiation Forum convened on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, following a formal request from Public Sector Unions (PSUs) to address concerns arising from the implementation of the long-awaited 2025 salary review exercise. The meeting was called after widespread reports from members across various sectors highlighted irregularities in salary grading, tax calculations, and post allocations.
The session, held between the PSUs and the Government Negotiating Team (GNT), focused on obtaining clarity and corrective assurances relating to errors experienced by employees after the rollout of the new salary structure. According to union representatives, the issues raised were not isolated but reflected genuine systemic challenges affecting multiple cadres.
Among the key matters brought forward by members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) were the downgrading of employees who were previously assured they would remain in their existing grades unless they were newly appointed. Other concerns included the placement of teachers in the Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) category under the wrong salary grade, the incorrect treatment of stagnant posts such as C3 and C2, and disputes over tax bracket calculations under the new structure.
During the discussions, both parties acknowledged that the implementation of such a large-scale restructuring exercise was likely to produce technical errors. The GNT confirmed that the concerns raised by the unions were valid and would be addressed before November salaries are processed. It was agreed that the PSUs would meet directly with the consultant responsible for the salary review to seek clarification on all disputed categories and ensure corrections are made urgently.
Union leaders stated that the intervention was not an appeal against the salary review recommendations themselves, but rather a request for the immediate correction of administrative errors that emerged during the processing phase. To expedite the resolution process, members who have identified discrepancies on their payslips have been instructed to submit written complaints through their school-based SNAT representatives by the end of tomorrow, 6 November 2025. Complaints must be supported by both the old and new payslips to allow for proper verification.
In addition to salary grading concerns, the PSUs also used the platform to follow up on the delayed payment of salaries to members of the armed forces, a matter the government has pledged to resolve urgently.
Although the errors have caused frustration among employees, the meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties committing to transparent and collaborative problem-solving. The unions welcomed the government’s willingness to engage constructively and acknowledged that the corrective process showed respect for workers’ rights and expectations.
The JNF is expected to reconvene once consultations with the salary review consultant have been completed, with updates communicated to members thereafter.
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