MBABANE – Not all were happy to the bank yesterday.
This sums up the reaction of civil servants after they received their revised salaries following a nine-year wait for their remuneration structure to be revised.
The public servants received a fraction of their revised pay increment following the salary review which was agreed upon by the employer and the public workers’ representatives – Public Sector Unions (PSUs).
The reactions of the civil servants varied in that there were those who were sharing their frustrations of their remuneration not being what they expected.
Some even expressed frustration and irritation over the word ‘dvuladvula’ which has been used in reference to their salary as it incorporates a backpay and increment.
Some civil servants confirmed that they had received the increment; however, they expressed disappointment over the high taxes they now face.
On another note, the minister warned civil servants to spend wisely through proper investments, emphasising that wasted money can never be regained.
Aside from what had been the anticipation leading to the signing of a collective agreement between the employer and the unions on October 15, 2025, the terms were altered as government committed to paying 15 per cent of the six months back pay (April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025) of the recommended salary adjustments as contained in Scenario III on the October 2025 pay day.
The employer deferred the settlement of the difference - 85 per cent back pay balances – to the first month (July 2026) of the second quarter of the financial year 2026/2027.
The employer (government) committed to fully implement of all the recommended salary adjustments that are contained in Scenario III of the salary review report, subsequent to the submission of the final draft of the remuneration and/or salary review report by the consultants, being Emergence Human Capital T/A Emergence Growth, partnering with Umelusi Partners.
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Union clueless over payments
MBABANE – “We are clueless on whether our members were paid accordingly or there are discrepancies as there is no Establishment Circular!”
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) General Secretary Lot Vilakati, said they were flooded with calls by some of their members who had raised concerns that they had received a minimal amount. Vilakati said the Public Sector Unions (PSUs) Secretariat was unable to assist their members as they were clueless on the new remuneration structure. “We could not establish whether their concerns were genuine and needed to be addressed or they had received what is due to them as there is no Establishment Circular,” Vilakati said.
Delay caused by time constraints
MBABANE – Government says the delay in the issuance of the Establishment Circular had been caused by the time constraints in which they worked under to finalise the salaries.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Mthunzi Shabangu apologised profusely for the delay in the issuance of the Establishment Circular.
He stated that the signing of the collective agreement by the employer and the workers had been done late which resulted in the personnel designated for running salaries and those revising the Establishment Circular working under pressure.
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Armed forces review to be completed this week
MBABANE - There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, as government has indicated that the salary review for armed forces is expected to be completed this week.
This latest development was confirmed by the Minister for Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, in an interview yesterday. Maseko stated that government and the consultant are working around the clock to finalise the report. He explained that the delay was not intentional but was caused by the late release of the report by the consultant.
The minister added that government felt a duty to explain the contents of the report to the armed forces before disbursing the payments. Maseko assured that nothing is lost for the armed forces, as any proposed increment in the report would be backdated to October, in the same manner as other civil servants.
He provided an example, explaining that someone earning E10 000 per month, with a proposed increase of E2 000, would receive the October increment alongside their November salaries.
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Some flock to banks
MBABANE - Some civil servants flocked to the banks after their salaries were credited to their accounts yesterday.
During a random check at around 1pm, some civil servants were already queueing at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for withdrawals.
Many workers engaged in friendly conversations about their increments as they made their way towards the banks. Notably, some beggars positioned themselves next to the busy ATMs, taking advantage of the crowd as civil servants withdrew their salaries, following the much-anticipated increment announced in the salary review report.
Bus fare allowance implemented
MBABANE - The revised Bus Fare Allowance, in line with the Salary Review Report, shall be implemented in full at a rate of E0.76 per kilometre, subject to a maximum claimable amount of E1 200 per month.
This was with effect from October 1, 2025, according to the Establishment Circular seen by this publication last night.
The Circular under Article 4 states that government commits to paying 15 per cent of the arrears on salaries from April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025, on the October 2025 pay day.
The remaining 85 per cent balance shall be paid during the first month (July 2026) of the second quarter of the financial year 2026/2027.
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Appeals within 30 days
MBABANE – Any appeals by civil servants should be submitted within 30 working days from the date of issuance of the Establishment Circular.
The Circular was issued yesterday.
It states that while every effort has been made in the Circular to ensure that there are no omissions or errors that may result from its implementation, it is accepted that such may occur.
According to the Circular, all controlling officers concerned are therefore requested to report in writing, errors and anomalies that they observe in the Circular or on its implementation, to the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Mthunzi Shabangu.
“No officer will be deprived of an advantage for which they are entitled to nor will any officer be allowed to gain an advantage to which they are not entitled to as a result of an error and/or anomaly, whether such arises in this Circular or in the process of its implementation,” reads in part the Circular. It also states that it supersedes all other correspondences or circulars on the salary structure and grading of the public service.
*Full article available in our publication.
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) General Secretary Lot Vilakati, said they were flooded with calls by some of their members who had raised concerns that they had received a minimal amount. He is pictured here speaking during the recent World Teachers Day celebrations. (Pic: Facebook/The SNAT Platform)