MBABANE – Government will spend E456 million on concluding the Phase II negotiations for junior police and Correctional Services officers.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini announced the outcome of negotiations between government and staff associations in the security forces on the implementation of phase II remuneration alignments, in the security forces.
These are staff associations of both the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS).
The agreement was signed on Wednesday evening, as detailed by the PM and it comes in two folds.
The prime minister (PM) announced the outcome of the negotiations, which were signed on Wednesday evening. The agreement comes in two parts: Professional adjustment levels and functional adjustment levels.
Under the professional adjustment levels, officers with the rank of inspector/chief officer, assistant superintendent and superintendent will receive a once-off, retrospective back-pay at an eight per cent net present value (NPV) rate for up to 24 months. These 952 junior officers will cost government E57 million annually.
For the functional levels, which include assistant inspector/assistant chief officer, sergeant instructor, sergeant, warder instructor, constable and warder/wardress, there will be an alignment of a three per cent increment on the basic salary, also backdated for up to 24 months.
This applies only to officers in these ranks who will not benefit from the professional adjustments. This category has 13 119 beneficiaries and government will spend E171 million annually on these payments. The total amount of E456 million will cover two years for both categories.
The PM said the issue had become a long, involved, historical and legendary story that was spoken of in both hushed and loud tones. He said a press briefing was necessary to make an official communication of the outcome of the negotiations.
“The wide publicity that this matter has earned has made it necessary for us to convene this press briefing today in order to make an official communication of the outcome of the negotiations on this proverbial issue called ‘Phase II’,” he said.
Dlamini said they were happy to announce that subsequent to various negotiation meetings convened through the Ministry of Public Service with the staff associations from both the REPS and HMCS, the parties have since signed a collective agreement to resolve this matter once and for all.
The PM detailed that government and the staff associations have further agreed that this agreement shall be binding upon all parties and upon all members of the security forces and that it is in full and final settlement of all outstanding issues pertaining to the professional adjustments of salaries in the security forces (otherwise known as Phase II).
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