Africa-Press – Eswatini. Members of Parliament (MPs) have called upon the ministry of public service to start afresh the process of negotiating for a Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) with Public Sector Associations (PSAs) for the sake of peace in the kingdom.
This submission was made by MPs during the debate of the ministry’s 2022/2023 first quarter report yesterday.
The legislators submitted that it made sense to put into consideration the argument by civil servants representatives that three per cent CoLA plus a onceoff payment of one per cent of annual salary was meagre, given the ever rising prices of essential commodities and services not only in Eswatini but across the globe.
The latest stance by MPs comes in the wake of an agreement between the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) and the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) to accept the three per cent CoLA, which comes with a once-off payment of one per cent annual salary.
All non-unionised employees within the government payroll, which includes the legislators themselves, will benefit from the three per cent CoLA.
PSAs on the other hand, reached a deadlock with GNT and further proceeded to lay a dispute with the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC).
Government recognises five PSAs as employee representatives of the various categories of employees in the public service, namely, the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA), the Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) and the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA).
NAPSAWU, SNAT, SNA and SNAGAP are members of the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) while EPA was not as it represented managers in the education sector.
Ndzingeni MP, Lutfo Dlamini, advised the Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko that the civil service was essential to turn around the ailing economy.
Therefore, they deserve to be treated with all due respect in order for them to also help in ensuring that the kingdom does not crumble.
“The decision between government and EPA is dangerous union bashing. A deadlock in negotiations is normal. It just means you need to go back to the drawing board and come up with another feasible plan, which will be considered by the unions,” Dlamini submitted.
The MP went on to say union bashing would only provide a short-term solution.
Challenge
Therefore, it would be wise to come up with another solution to the present challenge faced by government with regards to CoLA and salary increases.
Dlamini also submitted that there ought to be training for members of the GNT in order to comprehend with the semantics of negotiation.
Lomahasha MP, Ndumiso Masimula, categorically stated that he was against government’s decision to continue with granting head teachers the three per cent CoLA. He said it would be folly to massage egos of the minority at the expense of over 40 000 civil servants in the kingdom.
“We need to be rebuilding as a country and not cause division at this point,” he recommended.
Hhohho Region MP, Nokunceda Bujela, said it would be prudent to re-negotiate with PSAs in order to find an amicable way forward than to resort in giving CoLA only to head teachers.
“The negotiations must just start all over again because civil servants who have been left out are worried. This could also help calm down the civil unrest in the kingdom,” she submitted.
Hhukwini MP, Nkhanyeti Ngwenya, likened the agreement between government and EPA as scoring an own goal.
He said government ought to come up with an urgent solution to the brewing conflict between civil servants and government that would emanate from the decision to grant CoLA only to head teachers. “All I can say is that you are scoring an own goal if you continue with this decision,” said Ngwenya.
When responding to the recommendation by MPs, Minister Maseko was non-committal as to whether they would start afresh the process of negotiating with PSAs.
He only clarified that the agreement reached between government and head teachers would affect members of the association and all non-unionised civil servants with effect from this month end.
Maseko explained that the three per cent plus a once-off payment of one per cent of annual salary was based on the national budget, which was also approved by MPs. “The CoLA we have agreed on comes from what has been budgeted for during the 2022/2023 financial year. In fact, it was sourced from money that was saved as part of the hiring freeze. Otherwise, there would be no CoLA this year,” he said.
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