- GNT to return to Cabinet Tuesday to seek enhanced mandate ahead of final negotiations with unions
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Contrary to widespread public belief that the implementation of the long-awaited salary review for public servants will cost government a staggering E1.6 billion, Eswatini Positive News can exclusively reveal that the true figure currently under consideration is E800 million.
This amount represents 64% of the approved category three of the Salary Review Report, a figure that the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) has been mandated to work with as it engages Public Sector Unions (PSUs) in the final stretch of the talks.
Speaking exclusively to this publication, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Mthunzi Shabangu, clarified the figures and provided candid insights into the current state of negotiations, the financial realities faced by government, and the path toward finalisation.
Negotiations Stretch as Proposals Exceed Original Costing
Shabangu explained that while the Salary Review Report by consultants initially guided negotiations, the latest union proposals have exceeded the cost projections in the report.
“The challenge is that the proposals are no longer informed by the Salary Review Report. They exceed the cost. However, it doesn’t mean the report cannot be amended or trimmed. The proposals have caused negotiations to stretch, which is why we have not been able to finalise,” he said.
Government has made it clear that while it is fully committed to implementing the salary review, it is doing so under “extreme financial limitations.”
“The only frustration for Government would be the financial limitation. We definitely can settle and we will settle soon,” Shabangu affirmed.
Mandate Exhausted — Cabinet to ‘Recharge’ Negotiation Power
The government negotiations forum has since postponed negotiations to Wednesday, 15 October, to allow Cabinet to meet on Tuesday and decide whether to expand the current 64% mandate, given that unions’ proposals exceed what the team was authorised to offer.
“We were given a mandate to consider implementing up to 64% of the approved category three. We did not disclose the amount then because once you disclose it, people get condemned. We approached negotiations from an impact point of view, what it would mean for individuals across all categories, including salaries and allowances,” Shabangu explained.
He confirmed that Cabinet will be requested to “further stretch” the 64% to accommodate the unions’ latest proposal.
Cost Comparisons and Fiscal Realities
In monetary terms, the 64% equates to E800 million, significantly lower than the rumoured E1.6 billion figure circulating in public discourse.
For perspective, the last salary review implemented in 2016 cost government E850 million, slightly above the current 64% proposal.
“For now, we have not costed the new proposals when we adjourned the meeting today. We are hoping to have the final costing of the new proposal by the unions soon,” said Shabangu.
Government’s Optimism Amid Constraints
Despite the financial squeeze, Shabangu struck an optimistic tone, assuring public servants that government remains committed to concluding the negotiations.
“We remain optimistic that government will be able to implement the salary review,” he said.
Negotiations are expected to resume on Wednesday, following Cabinet deliberations. Both parties are hoping to finalise the talks and pave the way for implementation, which would be a significant boost for thousands of public servants across all categories.
Why This Matters
The Salary Review Report aims to address long-standing remuneration disparities, improve retention and motivation in the public service, and modernise the government’s wage structure. By clarifying the true cost of implementation, this exclusive revelation sets the record straight and provides a realistic view of the government’s fiscal space and the delicate balancing act at the negotiation table.(Pics: The SNAT Platform)
