Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze
University of Eswatini workers ,comprising of academic, administrative and non academic have embarked on a series of protest actions meant to elicit more commitments from the management of UNESWA that going forward wages will be paid without delays amongst others. On Monday 26th February 2024 academic and administrative workers under the banner of the Association for Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) delivered a petition to parliament to coincide with the reading of the national budget by Minister Neal Rekjernberg.
On Wednesday 28th February 2024 UNESWA workers who are members of the the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI) delivered a petition (a copy of which the ELI is in possession of) to the Management of UNESWA. In their petition they brought it to UNESWA Managements attention that firstly they viewed the recurrent delays in the payment of salaries as a breach to the contracts of employment. "the membership has encountered recurrent delays in the payment of salaries beyond the stipulated 19th of each month. This is viewed as breach of contracts of employment for the workers" (sic).
Secondly NAWUSHI warned the UNESWA management to desist from the practice of re-engaging retired workers to carry out work that can otherwise be carried out by remaining adequately skilled workers.
Thirdly the petition drew the attention of UNESWA management to the fact that their continued non remittance of deductions from workers salaries had made UNESWA workers to be labelled as a high risk by financial institutions and are therefore unable to access financing. Worse NAWUSHI pointed out that non remittance to some service providers like medical aid providers puts the workers lives at risk, "Some of the non-remittances continue to put the lives of workers at risk as they are deprived of medical assistance".
Fourth, NAWUSHI raised the issue of a cushion fund for financial services providers that had been agreed upon but that has not been implemented by UNESWA management.
Fifth, NAWUSHI lamented that since they in concert with ALAAP had passed a vote of no confidence on the UNESWA Management nothing had been communicated to them regarding this matter by the council of UNESWA.
Sixth, NAWUSHI brought to the attention of UNESWA management that they was still outstanding engagement on the issue of workers at the refectory regarding the non renewal of their contracts by management.
NAWUSHI concluded by declaring amongst others that all deductions be remitted within 48 hours of their deduction by UNESWA ,that Management of UNESWA resign within seven (7) days failing which the workers would effect withdrawal of their services without any further notice. NAWUSHI further informed UNESWA Management that they would be engaging on a protest action to the Ministry of Education and Training on the 4th March 2024 to demand that UNESWA be placed under administration for all their failures.
UNESWA management through Registrar Dr S.S. Simelane declined to comment on the issue citing that the matter was now before the courts and therefore they could not comment on it any longer.
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