Africa-Press – Eswatini. Public Sector Unions (PSUs) have welcomed government’s decision to reinstate 22 civil servants who had been on suspension for nearly five years, describing the move as a significant victory for workers and a restoration of justice.
The announcement was made during a mass meeting convened by the PSUs on Tuesday at the SNAT Centre in Manzini. Speaking at the gathering, SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini, in his capacity as chairperson of the PSUs, said the development marked a turning point for the affected employees.
He commended the leadership of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) for its role in advocating for the workers’ reinstatement.
“We congratulate the executive of NAPSAWU on the reinstatement of the 22 civil servants who are under this respected union,” said Dlamini. “This represents a new lease of life for them as workers.”
Dlamini further noted that it was encouraging to see the country’s justice system intervening in favour of employees who had endured years of uncertainty. He said the outcome demonstrated that fairness and due process could still prevail within the system.
The reinstated employees are expected to resume duty immediately after receiving their posting letters from the Ministry of Public Service. Their return comes almost five years after they were initially suspended following structural changes within government.
The matter dates back to 2021, when government dissolved certain departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT). Among those affected were workers from the mechanisation department in agriculture and the computer services department in ICT.
The mechanisation department had been responsible for coordinating tractor hire services aimed at assisting farmers with access to mechanical power. The initiative had been designed as a temporary government-led programme, with plans to eventually transfer operations to farmers as a sustainable business venture. The service has since been taken over by the National Maize Corporation (NMC).
While most employees affected by the dissolution of the departments received their terminal benefits, 22 workers—20 from agriculture and two from ICT—were left without resolution, prompting intervention from NAPSAWU.
The union subsequently approached the Industrial Court, arguing that the dismissals were unlawful as government had failed to properly engage the union during the process.
On 27 April 2022, the Industrial Court ruled in favour of the workers, finding that government’s actions were unlawful, unfair, and in breach of the Recognition Agreement. The court directed the Ministry of Public Service to engage with the union to resolve the matter.
Following negotiations, the parties reached an agreement that has now resulted in the reinstatement of the affected employees.
Members of the NAPSAWU national executive met with the reinstated workers following the announcement, expressing relief and satisfaction at the outcome. The development has been widely seen as a positive step towards strengthening labour relations and upholding workers’ rights within the public sector.
Union leaders have expressed hope that the case will serve as a precedent for fair engagement between government and organised labour in future.
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