Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Government of Eswatini and the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) have reached a landmark agreement on the E800 million salary review implementation, marking a significant step towards improving the welfare and remuneration of school heads across the country.
The agreement was finalised on Thursday, 16 October 2025, following several days of intensive negotiations between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the EPA. The discussions began on 13 October 2025 and culminated in the signing of a Collective Agreement at the Ministry of Public Service Conference Room in Mbabane.
According to the terms of the agreement, both parties settled on the 100% implementation of salary adjustments under Scenario 3 of the 2025 Salary Review Report, excluding the 15% back pay. The review forms part of government’s wider efforts to ensure fair, competitive, and equitable pay across the public sector.
Key Implementation Highlights:
Full Salary Adjustment: The 100% salary adjustment will be implemented from October 2025, backdated to April 2025. Employees in Grades D4 and D5 will transition to Notch 1 on the new salary scale.
Back Pay: 15% of the six-month back pay (April–October 2025) will be paid in October 2025, while the remaining 85% will be disbursed in July 2026.
Housing Allowance: A E3 000 monthly housing allowance will be paid from July 2026, effective from October 2025.
Commuted Car Allowance: The E6 000 monthly car allowance, strongly advocated by EPA during the talks, will also be paid from July 2026, effective from October 2025.
Other Allowances: Additional allowances, including hardship allowances, will be implemented in July 2026.
Provisions for Retiring Members:
The agreement further ensures that principals and deputy principals who retired between April 2025 and October 2025 will receive all applicable salary adjustments and back pay up to their retirement date. Those retiring during the implementation period (October 2025–July 2026) will also be entitled to payments due up to their retirement. The EPA will assist affected members with the necessary application process.
The EPA emphasised the need for government to honour all terms, timelines, and conditions of the agreement without deviation or delay. The association reaffirmed its role as the sole recognised body mandated to negotiate on behalf of all school principals and deputy principals in Eswatini.
“The EPA remains firmly committed to improving the working conditions of its members and ensuring that government fulfils its promises as outlined in the Collective Agreement,” the association said in a statement.
The salary review exercise, initiated in August 2024, was undertaken by Emergence Human Capital (trading as Emergence Growth) in partnership with Umelusi Capital, a local consultancy firm. The firms were appointed by Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko to assess whether civil servants’ salaries remained fair, competitive, and aligned with their responsibilities.
This agreement marks a major milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to modernise the public service remuneration framework and enhance morale across the education sector.
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