ESWATINI PUBLIC SERVICE UNIONS HAVE NEGOTIATED 4% COLA FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS

File picture

Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze

The Eswatini public service workers represented by the Public Service Union (PSUs) have negotiated a 4% COLA for all public service workers that include health workers in public facilities, educators in public schools and workers in government offices around the country who service the public.

The PSUs are made up of the following public services trade union, the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), the Swaziland National Government Accountants Personnel (SNAGAP), the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU).

The 4% settlement came after intense negotiations between the parties wherein the PSUs had initially made a demand for 7.25% COLA while government had initially made an offer of 3% to the PSUs.

This wage settlement ,while serving as a relief to public service workers who have lately had their wages supressed through receiving perennial below inflation increases in their salaries, still falls slightly below the inflation levels. The annual inflation for the 2023/24 financial year was reported to be 4.7% by the Central Bank of Eswatini while the annual inflation for the 2022/2023 financial year was placed had been averaged at 5%. Public Service Workers had also received 4% COLA in the previous year of 2022/2023.

Explaining the negotiations process to SNAT members on their The SNAT Platform on Facebook President Mbongwa Dlamini praised the negotiations process with the government who he described to have negotiated in good faith in this round of negotiations. He further explained that what guided them as negotiators was to remove the issue of COLA from being a distraction as PSUs as they want to focus on the salary review and job evaluation exercise.

The salary review and job evaluation exercise for the public service has finally been commissioned with the appointment of the service provider, the Emergence Growth Consultancy Company (From South Africa) who will work with a local partner, Umelusi Consultancy to conduct the exercise.

The workers expect to receive the COLA backdated to April 2024 when they receive their salaries for July 2024.

Comments

NAPSAWU HAS SUSPENDED THREE NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS

Written by Staff Reporter The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) National General Council (NGC) ,on Thursday 15 th February 2024, suspended three of its National Office Bearers (NOBs), two of whom are believed to be principal officers. Principal Officers number up to three in trade unions and are the President, General Secretary and the Treasurer. The suspension of two of them may therefore demonstrate the seriousness of the matter just barely six months since the current NOBS took office in August 2023. The suspension of the trio is reported to have come after it had been discovered that they were one way or another involved in alleged misappropriation of undisclosed NAPSAWU funds believed to amounting to more than one hundred thousand and seventy thousands (more than E170 000) emalangeni. The funds according to reliable sources are believed to have been approved funds for union activities but were later discovered to have been diverted into personal acco

PENSION FUNDS AUSTERITY DRIVEN BUSINESS MODEL IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS LIKHWANE SAGA RAGES ON

Picture sourced from the internet Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The raging saga involving the beneficiaries of the Eswatini Electricity Company Pensions Fund (EECPF), who have been fighting the EECPF in order to get the payment of benefits due to their dependants resumed, has shone the spotlight on the practices of pension funds in the country. This episode has perhaps revealed legislative weaknesses particularly legislation in relation to the protection of pension funds beneficiaries as well as a poor oversight exercised by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) over what can be described as risky practices of pension funds in the country. The background of this particular case is that it appears that Likhwane received funds from the different pension and provident funds and proceeded to invest the funds in investment vehicles such as ESW/Escponet Investment and Lingedla PTY LTD. From these funds, in the case of the EECPF, it appears , Likhwane was expected to facilitate

TOP THREE PRIORITIES FOR MINISTER PHILA BUTHELEZI ACCORDING TO TRADE UNIONS

TUCOSWA activists during a protest action (file picture) On Monday 14 th November 2022 the newly appointed Prime Minister Mr Russell M Dlamini announced the appointment of cabinet ministers who he would be leading the 12 th Eswatini’s administration with. The ministers ranged from familiar faces in the form of Neal Rijkenberg, Pholile Shakantu, Prince Simelane, Princess Lindiwe, Mancoba Khumalo, Thuli Dladla , Phila Buthelezi, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Mabulala Maseko and Thambo Gina. There are also new faces such as Apollo Maphalala, Skhumbuzo Dlamini, Mduduzi Matsebula, Mandla Tshawuke, Bongani Nzima, Savannah Maziya, Jane Mkhonta and Prince Lonkhokhela and not so new faces like Owen Nxumalo a former Minister of Public Service who makes a return after being absent for a five year term. The most anticipated appointed ministerial appointment as far as workers are concerned ofcourse is the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare who this time around happened to be Phila Buthelezi

Eswatini Labour Insight

Search This Blog