![\"\"](\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PAGE-1-LEAD-PICTURE-Ministry-of-Public-Service-PS-Mthunzi-Shabangu-and-Umelusi-Capital-local-partner-Siphephiso-Dlamini-presenting-the-salary-review-report.jpg\")
<\/p>\n…Unions to Table Submissions Monday, Cabinet to Decide Tuesday.<\/p>\n
By Kwanele Dhladhla<\/p>\n
Eswatini 44,000 civil servants are set to finally hear the outcome of crucial, long-
\ndelayed salary review talks this week.
\nA reliable source within the Ministry of Public Service has confirmed that public sector
\nunions will finally table their submissions on the proposed salary review this coming
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The deadline had initially been set for Friday, but unions requested more time,
\nprompting the government to extend it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe unions are expected to present their submissions on Monday. Cabinet will then
\ndeliberate on the matter on Tuesday,\u201d the source revealed.<\/p>\n
The talks follow the official handover of a 444-page Remuneration Review Report to the
\nMinistry of Public Service, prepared by consultants. Principal Secretary Mthunzi
\nShabangu received the report at a recent Joint Negotiation Forum meeting.<\/p>\n
The report makes it clear that the bulk of civil servants will see no movement in their
\ngrading. According to the findings, 75 per cent of grades will remain unchanged, while
\n19 per cent will be upgraded and six per cent downgraded.<\/p>\n
Among those facing a downgrade are the Handicraft Officer II, who would move from
\nGrade C3 to C2, and the Gender Analyst in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, who
\nis proposed to shift from Grade E3 to E2. Unions have voiced concerns that the review
\nshould uplift all workers and not result in demotions, emphasizing that proposed
\ndowngrades undermine morale and job security.<\/p>\n
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has been vocal about
\nadditional allowances. Secretary General Lot Vilakati insists that plain clothes, housing,
\nand teaching allowances should be built into the review.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the introduction of a hardship allowance for teachers in special
\nschools but said more must be done. \u201cGovernment declared those schools inclusive,
\nwhich means they can now admit any learner. However, teachers in these institutions
\nface unique challenges, which warrant a specific allowance,\u201d Vilakati said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The hardship allowance, set to come into effect in October, will equal five per cent of a
\nteacher\u2019s basic salary for those working in rural or remote areas. Meanwhile, the travel
\nallowance is set to jump from 17 cents to 76 cents per kilometre, though the claim
\nradius has controversially been increased to 17 kilometres.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Vilakati also criticised the hiring of qualified teachers under Grade B2 \u2013 a category
\nmeant for unskilled labourers. \u201cIf government has no post for C3, then it should hire
\nteachers who are diploma holders. Grade B2 is for unskilled workers, not trained
\nprofessionals,\u201d he argued.<\/p>\n
The remuneration review also covers politicians, commissioners, and security
\npersonnel. The report proposes capping politicians\u2019 communication allowance at E120
\nper month, alongside an entitlement of three per cent of basic salary for household
\nexpenses when posted away from home.<\/p>\n
Contractual employees will benefit from an ex-gratia allowance of 25 per cent of basic
\nsalary to offset retirement provision gaps.<\/p>\n
For teachers, a special responsibility allowance has been proposed \u2013 E600 for primary
\nschool teachers and E800 for secondary school teachers \u2013 to compensate for extra
\nduties such as physical education, cultural programmes, and career guidance.<\/p>\n
Police detectives and other plain-clothes officers may also see their monthly plain-
\nclothes allowance double from E100 to E200, reflecting the cost of civilian attire
\ncompared to standard uniforms.<\/p>\n
While unions gear up to table their submissions on Monday, all eyes will turn to Cabinet
\non Tuesday, when the final deliberations begin. The stakes are high, as civil servants
\nawait clarity on how much relief \u2013 or disappointment \u2013 the long-awaited salary review
\nwill bring.<\/p>\n
For now, the verdict is clear: the review may adjust allowances and tweak some grades,
\nbut most civil servants will remain where they are. Whether unions can sway the
\ngovernment to expand the scope of benefits will be determined in the coming crucial
\ndays.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"…Unions to Table Submissions Monday, Cabinet to Decide Tuesday. By Kwanele Dhladhla Eswatini 44,000 civil servants are set…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,23,24],"tags":[46,65,73],"class_list":["post-3261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-finance","category-future","tag-africa","tag-analysis","tag-eswatini","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n