Africa-Press – Eswatini. Tambankulu Estates workers are smiling back to their workstations to resume work today after entering into an agreement of six per cent salary increment with their employer.
The over 1 500 workers have been on strike for slightly over a week as they were demanding a three per cent balance in salary increment which was supposed to have been effected last year.
Initially, the workers were demanding an eight per cent salary increase for the year 2021-2022.
The management had however managed to effect a five per cent increment for that year, leaving the workers demanding the three per cent balance.
Their resolve to engage in a strike action came after they revealed a deadlock with their employer, and the matter remained unresolved at the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC). The workers are represented by the Swaziland Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (SAPWU).
In an interview, SAPWU Chairperson Malungisa Dlamini said they had since suspended their strike and returned to work after reaching a bargain agreement with the employer. According to Dlamini, the two parties have been having a series of meetings since the workers had resolved to down tools about two weeks ago. Dlamini said their last meeting which eventually became fruitful was held on Friday, where the two parties reached a complete new agreement for the year 2022-2023.
They have signed for a six per cent salary increment. “We had to abandon our call for the three per cent balance for the previous year and entered a new agreement with the employer,” said Dlamini.
The chairperson said the workers were happy with the new agreement. Dlamini said this was a fair agreement for both parties, especially when considering the current financial situation in the country.
Following the agreement, some workers are said to have resumed work on Saturday as per their schedules.
Tambankulu Estates is one of the three largest producers of sugarcane in the country. Hundreds of people are employed by the company on permanent basis, and another fraction employed on contract basis.
Meanwhile, several workers’ unions after fighting for salary increments in the various sectors as the cost of living has evidently escalated.
About two weeks ago, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) petitioned government on the issue of the escalating cost of living.
The umbrella organisation calls upon government to be considerate of the escalated cost of basic needs. Some of the needs which have seen prices sky-rocketing include fuel, cooking oil bread, amongst other necessities.
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