Africa-Press – Eswatini. In a pressing development, Mthunzi Shabangu, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, disclosed in an exclusive interview that government and public sector unions (PSUs) have less than 24 hours to review and amend the pre-draft of the salary review report for public servants.
This urgency follows delays in the delivery of the report, which was initially expected on September 1 but only recently reached the stakeholders. Shabangu emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating:
“We got the report today. The Government Negotiations Team (GNT) and the Public Sector Unions were supposed to receive it earlier.”
Now, both parties face immense pressure to provide swift feedback. The timeline for comments has been cut to just 24 hours, a daunting yet necessary challenge, according to Shabangu.
A Tight Race Against Time
“The reality is that we have committed ourselves to read and make comments within the next 24 hours,” he explained, noting the importance of refining the document before it reaches cabinet. The collaborative effort aims to ensure the final draft accurately reflects the needs and expectations of public servants.
Despite the tight deadline, Shabangu expressed cautious optimism regarding the consultant’s work:
“At a glance, I am happy with the report. The consultant has tried to meet all our expectations in terms of objectives and tasks we wanted to be executed.”
The report contains a variety of options designed to address diverse needs across the public service, but careful scrutiny will be required to finalize it within the limited time.
Financial Hurdles
Shabangu further pointed out the financial constraints impacting the review process. With Parliament having allocated only E500 million, there are concerns that exceeding this budget could complicate cabinet approval.
“It is a very difficult aspect of the process,” he admitted, underlining the balance both parties must strike between ambition and financial prudence.
A Charged Atmosphere
As the deadline approaches, Shabangu described a renewed sense of determination among stakeholders:
“Today, the room was shining brighter than it had in the past few days,” he said, reflecting a glimmer of hope despite the heavy workload.
The final draft is anticipated by Friday. The outcome will have lasting implications for Eswatini’s public sector, making the coming hours critical for both government and unions.
SALARY REVIEW PROMISES ALLOWANCES BOOST FOR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS
BY NONCEDO SHABANGU
MBABANE – Public sector employees can expect more than just salary adjustments from the ongoing Salary Review exercise. The draft report, now under consideration by unions and government, includes several improvements to allowances designed to ease the cost of living for workers.
Travel allowances are set to rise from the current 76 cents per kilometre, giving relief to employees who travel frequently for work. A new hardship allowance pegged at 5% of basic salary has also been proposed, aimed at compensating workers based in rural areas. In addition, a special schools allowance will benefit teachers working in schools that cater for children with disabilities.
The review, which began in 2021, is being assessed by four unions the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), the Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), and the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU). The organisations are currently scrutinising the second draft of the report before submitting their findings to government.
While much attention has been on the figures attached to salary increases, the allowances are also seen as a critical step towards recognising the diverse working conditions faced by employees across sectors. Headteachers and deputy headteachers in both primary and high schools are also expected to be paid in line with the value of their work. Teachers have expressed hope that such recognition will extend to classroom educators as well.
The Government Negotiating Team is expected to deliver the signed report to Cabinet next Tuesday, ahead of the 30 September deadline set in the terms of reference. Once Cabinet gives its mandate, the agreement will be finalised.
Salary adjustments will be backdated to April 2025, with payments expected by October. Pensioners have been reassured that they will continue to receive their cost of living adjustments through the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF).
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