BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government has moved to reassure teachers employed on fixed-term contracts that the contentious issue of housing allowance is receiving attention, with the Ministry of Public Service saying internal processes are being exhausted to find a way forward.
The assurance comes after the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) wrote to the Ministry on August 8, 2026, seeking clarity on the implementation of housing allowance for teachers employed on fixed-term contracts.
In a response dated August 13, 2026, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Mthunzi Shabangu, said Government was aligned with the recommendation contained in the Salary Review Report, as well as Circular No. 2 of 2026, which provides for civil servants to claim housing allowance irrespective of whether they are employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
However, Government explained that extending the allowance to employees on fixed-term contracts requires the provisions of the Salary Review Report to be properly harmonised with the existing General Order A.778(2).
The General Order currently states that an officer employed on contract, temporary or daily-paid terms is not eligible for payment of a housing allowance.
This has created the need for Government to reconcile the provisions before implementation can proceed.
Rather than dismissing the matter, the Ministry has indicated that it is actively working towards a solution.
“Government remains committed to addressing the matter and will communicate further once the necessary internal processes have been concluded,” Shabangu stated in the letter.
The Ministry also appealed to SNAT to allow the processes to run their course, saying the necessary internal procedures were being exhausted.
“SNAT is kindly requested to bear with Government as these internal processes are being exhausted,” reads the response.
The development signals Government’s willingness to engage on the concerns raised by fixed-term teachers while ensuring that any eventual implementation is consistent with the broader public service regulatory framework.
SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati had written to the Ministry on August 8 over the matter, prompting the latest response from the Public Service PS.
The teachers’ union is expected to engage the Ministry at bilateral level, particularly in view of the provisions of General Order A.778(1), as it continues pursuing clarity on the implementation of the allowance.
For Government, the latest communication provides an indication that the matter remains under consideration and that a decision will be communicated once the required internal processes have been completed.
The response could therefore pave the way for further constructive engagement between Government and the teachers’ union, with both sides expected to work towards resolving the outstanding issue.
The Government’s position also underscores the importance of ensuring that changes to conditions of service are properly aligned with existing public service regulations before they are implemented.
#Eswatini #Government #SNAT #Teachers #HousingAllowance #PublicService #Education #WorkingTogether
