BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Senior government officials and the leadership of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) have commenced a joint assessment of healthcare facilities as part of efforts to determine remuneration for workers who endure difficult working conditions in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
The bilateral site visits, which started yesterday, August 19, 2026, bring together SWADNU National Office Bearers (NOBs), led by President May’bongwe Masangane, and the Government Negotiation Team (GNT), led by Chief Negotiator and Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service Mthunzi Shabangu.
Also taking part in the exercise are PS in the Ministry of Health Khanya Mabuza, Secretary to Cabinet and Joint Negotiation Forum (JNF) Chairperson Victor Nxumalo, as well as other stakeholders.
The assessment is aimed at gathering first-hand information on the working conditions faced by nurses and other healthcare workers, particularly those serving in rural areas, to inform the determination of hardship allowance remuneration.
On the first day of the exercise, the delegation visited Bhawhwini Clinic in the Manzini Region and New Heaven Clinic in the Shiselweni Region.
The visits provided an opportunity for the government and workers’ representatives to assess the conditions under which healthcare workers deliver services, with particular attention being paid to the challenges associated with working in rural and hard-to-reach locations.
SWADNU said the exercise had highlighted that nurses and other healthcare workers endure severe and harsh working conditions in rural areas.
The involvement of both government negotiators and the workers’ representatives is expected to provide a joint assessment of the conditions on the ground as discussions on hardship allowance remuneration continue.
The bilateral site visits are set to continue at other healthcare facilities, with the findings expected to contribute to the ongoing negotiations on appropriate compensation for employees working under difficult conditions.
The exercise underscores the importance of determining hardship allowances based on the actual conditions experienced by workers at their respective workplaces.
#HealthCare #SWADNU #Government #Cabinet #NOBs #WorkersRights #WorkersUnite #HardshipAllowance #JNF
(Courtesy Pic)
