GOVERNMENT PRESS STATEMENT
NO 08: 2013
Following misleading reports published in the local daily newspapers where Government is purported to have awarded highly paid persons more money than those in the lower brackets at the Salary Negotiations Table -2013, we wish to clarify the following:
- Government deemed it appropriate to set aside a budget of E260 Million which translates to 5% increment across the board to adjust the cost of living for Civil servants notwithstanding the fact that it is not yet out of the fiscal challenges.
- After a series of deliberations with the Public Sector Staff associations the offer of 5% was not accepted.
- In order to supplement her offer of 5% Government further made a once-off ex-gratia payment of E160 Million.
- Government then offered a staggered methodology for distributing the E160 Million with the highest paid civil servant getting the lowest percentage and the lowest paid civil servant getting the highest percentage.
- Over and above all this Government approved a Salary Review for all Public Servants.
- In the last negotiation session the Public Sector Associations submitted that they were going to recharge their mandate before they could take a position on the offers. The parties agreed to adjourn to allow workers to consult with their principals and to resume with the negotiations on Monday 10th June 2012.
- It is public knowledge that such consultations did not take place owing to poor attendance of what was to be a mass meeting.
- The negotiations set for the Monday did not proceed as only two (2) of the four (4) Public Sector Staff Associations turned up for the meeting and the negotiations were postponed to 12th June 2013.
- The publicized reaction to the Government offer cannot therefore be true.
- The Joint Negotiations Forum is still waiting for an official position at the next meeting set for 12th June 2013.
- Government has however learnt with disappointment that even before the next meeting of the Joint Negotiations Forum SNAT president, Sibongile Mazibuko has allegedly taken a position to reject the offer as quoted in the Swazi Observer of 11th June , 2013 much against the Negotiations Policy guarding against revealing matters that are still under negotiation.
Percy N. Simelane 11 June 2013
Government Spokesman