Skip to main content

SUFIAW HEADS FOR STRIKE ACTION AT STANDARD BANK ESWATINI



Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze (Publishing Editor)

Standard Bank Eswatini workers ,who are members of the  Swaziland Union of Financial and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), are set to embark on a legal strike action commencing on Monday 22 May 2023 countrywide. The strike comes after the failure by Standard Bank Eswatini (the bank) and SUFIAW (the union) to reach an agreement on pay increases at the bank. 

The Times of Eswatini Sunday (21-05-2023) reported that at the negotiations table Standard Bank Eswatini is currently offering SUFIAW members a wage increment of 5.2% while SUFIAW is demanding 8.5% increment. So far none amongst the two parties has shown inclination meet the other halfway. In the same report the bank has expressed that they hope the grievance can be resolved before Monday ,the commencement date of the strike action.  

The same newspaper report indicated that a process of balloting for the strike action had been done in compliance with the labour laws of the country and workers had overwhelmingly voted to go on strike. It was reported that 268 workers voted to go on strike while 14 voted against going ahead with the strike action.

SUFIAW Secretary General Jabu Shiba (sourced online)

The Secretary General of the SUFIAW Jabu Shiba confirmed that the strike action will commence on Monday 22 May as per their plans. On reports that the bank has expressed hope on the resolution of the deadlock before Monday 22 May SG Shiba informed this reporter that a meeting had been scheduled at 0700 hours in the morning of Monday 22 May 2023 and as a SUFIAW they are hoping that the employer will table something that can tangibly be presented to workers for their consideration. Otherwise she indicated that the strike action continues in full steam.

It stands to be noted that Standard Bank Eswatini, reported to be the biggest bank in Eswatini in Capital and Assets, had earlier (31March 2023, Times of Eswatini) posted record profits for its 2022 financial year. Their after tax  profits of around E203M represented an increase of around 14% from profits reported at the end of 2021.  

Standard Bank Eswatini Chief Executive Officer  Mvuselelo Fakudze (Picture sourced online)

Workload grievance

One of the issues that is reported to be affecting  the workers' willingness to meet Standard Bank Eswatini halfway ,and  settle the wage stand off ,is an issue of workload that workers endure at the bank. Insiders have stated that workers at the bank are quietly expressing that they are tired of carrying more and more workload from colleagues who have either resigned, retired or are deceased. The bank, according to workers is not keen to hire more workers or to fill vacancies, instead  work pressure and workload is  piled on the already stretched  work force. As a result workers often find themselves having to work long hours, in evenings as well as on weekends ,in order to keep up with the workload. 

All this for no compensation in terms of overtime payments from Standard Bank Eswatini, in a majority of cases. 

SUFIAW SG however indicated that the issue of the workload is not a part of the issues that have been tabled by the union to Standard Bank.

More reports will follow as the strike action commences and on outcomes of the meeting between the the Bank and SUFIAW.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

70 individuals appointed into Emabandla at a high cost to the fiscus

  Eswatini Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo (online picture) King Mswati III the Head of State of Eswatini on Saturday issued a directive through the Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo appointing around 70 individuals into several national committees, also known as Emabandla. The appointments come more than a month after the term of office of the previous Emabandla’s term of office came to an end and their term in office was extended indefinitely by the King through a gazette issued by the Attorney General. The several Emabandla announced are as follows, Board of Trustees (7), the Minerals Management Board (7) , Ludzidzini Council (20), Civil Service Commission (5) , Liqoqo Council (20), the Land Management Board (5) and the Teaching Service Commission (5). The National Chief Defence Officer was also announced. The newly appointed Board of Trustees members are as follows: Neal Rikjernberg (Finance Minister and Chairperson), Princess Tiyandza, Chief Ndabankulu Simelane, Chief Mgwagw...
Post a Comment
Read more

PRE FINAL SALARY REVIEW REPORT RELEASED TO PSUs

  Pictured Above: Ministry of Public Service and Administration Principal Secretary Mthunzi Shabangu (L) receiving the Pre Final Salary Review and Jobs Grading report from Emergency Growth/Umelusi Consulting's Siphephiso Dlamini (R). Picture credit: SNAT Platform. Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The pre final draft report of the public service Salary Review and Jobs Grading report was released to the participants of Joint Negotiations Forum on Tuesday 9 th September 2025 by the consultancy team, a partnership comprising of Emergency Growth and Umalusi Consultancy. The report was symbolically delivered to the leader of the government negotiations team and Principal Secretary to the Ministry of Public Service and Administration, Mthunzi Shabangu. The Public Sector Unions, namely, National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU),the Swaziland National Government Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and the Swaziland Democratic ...
Post a Comment
Read more

KING APPOINTS RUSSEL MMISO DLAMINI AS PRIME MINISTER OF ESWATINI

  Russel Dlamini after being appointed as the Prime Minister of Eswatini (picture credit: Eswatini Government Social Media platforms) On Friday 03 November 2023 the Head of State of Eswatini King Mswati III appointed Russell Mmemo Dlamini as the Prime Minister of Eswatini. Dlamini has been holding the all-important position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the parastatal, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) since 2015. Before joining the NDMA Dlamini worked at global NGO World Vision both in Eswatini and in Rwanda where he held positions such as Programmes Development Manager (2003-2005), Director: Quality Assurance (2006 – 2009),Integrated Programmes Director (2009- 2010) and Interim National Director (2010) as well as the Integrated Programmes Director in Rwanda between (2010-2014). Dlamini’s tenure at the NDMA particularly gained national prominence during the COVID-19 period when the agency served as the strategic centre for the containment of the pandemic to ...
Post a Comment
Read more