Africa-Press – Eswatini. The salary review restructuring automatically notches civil servants to higher stages. This was said by Minister of Public Service Hon. Mabulala Maseko in a statement issued on Friday, April 17, 2026. The statement was issued in relation to the demand made by civil servants, through their unions, to notch in April 2026.
Salary review replaces traditional notching
Maseko explained that the ongoing salary review, implemented under a collective agreement between Government and Public Sector Unions (PSUs), already provides for progression within the newly approved salary structures. He said the restructuring inherently re-grades employees and places them on higher notches, effectively serving the same purpose as the traditional annual notching process.
According to the minister, Government and the PSUs concluded the agreement in October 2025 following a comprehensive remuneration review of public servants. The total financial implication for the full implementation of the salary review stands at E1.643 billion.
Phased implementation due to fiscal constraints
He noted that due to fiscal constraints, Government and the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) agreed with the unions to implement the review in phases over two financial years, namely 2025/26 and 2026/27. The first phase was implemented in October 2025 at a cost of E800 million.
Maseko said the outstanding balance of E843 million remains contractually due and is scheduled for payment in July 2026. This includes 85 per cent back pay on basic salaries as well as the payment of allowances recommended in the salary review report.
He stressed that Government has not reneged on its obligations and remains committed to fully implementing the agreement within the agreed timeframe. However, he clarified that the agreement did not anticipate that civil servants would also demand the usual April notching increment in addition to the salary review adjustments.
No budget for April notching
“At the time the agreement was reached, employees had already benefited from an adjustment in October 2025 and were due to receive another increment upon full implementation in July 2026,” said Maseko.
He further explained that Government is currently unable to absorb the additional cost of annual notching while simultaneously meeting the financial obligations of the salary review. He said no budget provision was made for the April 2026 notching, and implementing it across the public service would add approximately E195 million to the wage bill.
The minister revealed that Government had proposed a compromise to apply notching only to employees in Grades A and B, whose salaries were not significantly improved under the salary review. However, this proposal was rejected by the unions.
Concerns over impact on service delivery
Maseko warned that implementing universal notching would strain public finances and potentially affect Government’s ability to meet key service delivery obligations. These include infrastructure rehabilitation, fuel subsidies, and mitigating electricity tariff increases.
He reiterated Government’s commitment to maintaining a sustainable wage bill while ensuring macroeconomic stability and continued service delivery.
Government criticises union conduct
At the same time, Maseko criticised what he described as unlawful conduct by some union members during engagements at the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF). He alleged that large groups had been assembling outside negotiation venues, turning proceedings into what resembled political rallies.
Such actions, he said, contravene labour laws and public order regulations, and undermine the principles of orderly collective bargaining.
Call for constructive engagement
“Government remains committed to constructive engagement within the JNF, provided that such engagement is conducted in good faith and in compliance with legal and institutional frameworks,” he said.
He urged union members to focus on substantive labour issues and avoid politicising the negotiation process, adding that Government remains open to continued dialogue in the national interest.
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