Central Bank wokers strike, demand 7.2%

MBABANE – About 138 Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS) employees began their strike action demanding a 7.2 per cent salary adjust-ment yesterday.

Early in the morning, staff at the CBS headquarters were seen standing outside the gates holding placards inscribed with their grievances.

One of the placards read: "Tax kills us, Value Added Tax (VAT) kills us, and so we need 7.2 per cent."

Another read: "We are suffering from hunger, let us at least get 7.2 per cent cost of living," and an- other: "Housing allowance five per cent increase please."

The strike was not characterised by singing or toyi-toying or any other disturbance, something which explained why police officers were hardly seen in the vacinity.

The bank on April 1 this year, approved a 6.1 per cent cost of living adjustment across the board for its staff, but they rejected it, hence the decision to down tools.

Jimson Gwebu from the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (SUFIAW), said the strike was 100 per cent legal.

This was because a certificate of unresolved dispute was issued by the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC).

"We want 7.2 per cent because that is where the inflation rate is, but the bank only offered 6.1 per cent.

"Our salaries are overburdened by the many taxes we have to pay. We now even have to pay around E300 per month for pay as you park.

"We also want our housing allowance increased because rent is very high," explained Gwebu.

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