Skip to main content

PSU's AND THE ESWATINI GOVERNMENT GO BACK TO PRINCIPALS TO RENEW MANDATES

PSU leaders at the JNF (picture credit: The SNAT Platform)

After holding marathon meetings from Thursday 9th to Friday 10th October 2025 the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) parties, namely the Eswatini Government Negotiations Team (GNT)and the Public Service Unions (PSUs) took a break of a few days to allow the two parties to refresh their mandates with their principals. 

It is expected that the government negotiations team will consult with the cabinet of ministers on Tuesday 14th October 2025. In the same vein it is expected that the PSUs will conduct a report back and renewal of mandate process through a Joint General Council of all the PSUs on the same day, Tuesday 14th October 2025.

The week that ended on 10th October 2025 was an eventful week for the public service collective bargaining. It swing into high gear from Monday 6th October with a well attended joint public service mass meeting at the SNAT Center in Manzini. In the joint public service mass meeting the salary report and jobs grading report was presented to members of the PSUs. The joint mass meeting thereafter ,amongst several resolutions, resolved that public service workers would congregate in Mbabane on Wednesday 8th October 2025 to protest against the GNT and deliver a petition at the office of the Prime Minister. This protest was also to coincide with the sitting of the JNF.

 On Wednesday 8th October 2025 thousands of public service workers congregated in Mbabane for their protest and petition delivery.

PSU members delivering the petition at the Prime Minister's Office in Mbabane on Wednesday 8th October 2025 (Picture credit: The SNAT Platform)

On Thursday 9th October a joint general council of the PSUs was convened to report back on the Wednesday 8th October deliberations at the JNF. JNF Negotiations resumed in the Thursday 9th October 2025 in the afternoon until late into the night. The JNF also continued on Friday 10th October 2025.

According to a report made by the PSUs on the social media pages of the different PSUs on Friday 10th October the borne of contention was the issue related to the notching in the new salary structure wherein it had been recommended by the consultant that all public service workers ought to be started on the first notch of their salary grades at the implementation of the salary review. The PSUs on the other hand reported that their perspective was that the workers ought to be placed on the same notch that they currently occupy in order to realise the full promised percentage. 

The PSUs further reported that contrary to information shared previously to the effect that the government intended to spend E1.29B to implement the review, actually the government was going to spend around E800M to implement the exercises. SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini said "When the calculations were unpacked it was revealed that the full figure is rather E800million".

President Mbongwa continued to explain that there a two scenario implementation plan that sought to implement a notch to notch transition for grades A to D1 where the recommended percentage were not as high as the those from D2 upward. The president continued reporting that the once off  proposed for pay levels A and B would remain at the 5%. From pay level C upwards the housing allowance due was deferred to July 2026 except for 50% so as to fund the once off for grades A and B. Or Full implementation of the report but with once off for A and B. He lastly announced that allowances can be deferred to the second phase of the implementation.

The PSUs further reported that they had proposed to the Eswatini Government for the government to put on hold the running of salaries until the meeting on Wednesday 15th October 2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SIKELELA NGWENYA MAKES A COMEBACK AS PRESIDENT OF NAWUSHI

Sikelela Ngwenya makes a comeback as President of NAWUSHI  Picture: Newly elected President of NAWUSHI Comrade Sikelela Ngwenya (Picture courtesy of Comrade Sikelela on Facebook) Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze Comrade Sikelela Ngwenya has made a comeback as the president of the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI). This after getting elected to the position at their 1st quadrennial conference that took place at eSibayeni lodge in Matsapha on the 24th and 25th March 2022. To win the position comrade Sikelela beat off a stiff challenge  from Comrade Simon Dlamini from the Sebenta National Institute branch of NAWUSHI.  Comrade Sikelela is one of two  leaders of the previous NEC that were re-elected into the new NEC in the conference. The other NEC member that made it back is comrade Mpendulo Mkhonta  and he retained the position of Vice Treasurer. It is worth noting that Comrade Sikelela had previously served in the same position of...
1 comment
Read more

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