1. Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT);
2. Swaziland
National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP)
3. Swaziland
Nurses Association (SNA);
4. National
Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU)
On
the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) for the years 2017/2018 and 2018/ 2019
____________________________
1. Preamble
We,
the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the Swaziland National
Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), the Swaziland Nurses
Association (SNA) and the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union
(NAPSAWU) as worker organisations for over 25 000 workers under the employ of
the Government of Swaziland have been engaging with our employer on the Cost of
Living Adjustment [CoLA] for the last two (2) financial years 2017/2018 and
2018/2019 in vain, doing so whilst united in consciousness in pursuit of
workers’ rights. To this end therefore, we;
I.
Acknowledge the indisputable fact that our
members are now living far below the normal breadline since the Government has
dismally failed to adjust our salaries for two consecutive financial years,
resulting to a 14.4 % salary deduction.
II.
Mindful of the lavish government spending on
non-priority and capital projects such as the construction of the International
Convention Centre [ICC], funding of festivities such as the Umhlanga Reed
Dance, 50/50 celebrations for the King’s Birthday and Independence Day
Celebrations and catering for huge delegations to international trips.
III.
Inspired by past practice and logic that even
though cash liquidity problems can be sung nicely by those responsible for the
public purse, workers’ salaries such as the Cost of Living Adjustment have
always been a priority, rightfully so, in order to stimulate economic growth by
pumping money to workers for same to be circulated in the economy.
IV.
Convinced that, in this country of our
forefathers, money is in abundance since there has never been a suspension or
cutting on spending for cultural events, delegations and spending on vanity
capital projects as highlighted above.
From
the afore-going, we therefore;
Declare
that should the Government of Swaziland fail to table a proposed and improved
salary adjustment by the 27th of January 2019, all the Government systems shall
be brought to a complete halt on the 28th of January 2019 as workers would be
having zero motivation to go to work.
2. Attendant problems of the
government’s fiscal ill-discipline
As a
result of the fiscal ill-discipline on the part of Government, the following
societal problems have reared their ugly heads.
●
Shortage of drugs and other materials in public clinics, health centres and
hospitals
●
Stagnant Orphaned and Vulnerable Children [OVC] fees that are paid to schools,
thereby rendering schools ungovernable
●
Non repairing of public roads, in the midst of the heavy rains that have swept
across the country in recent times
●
Ever swelling public debt as Government fails to pay her suppliers
●
Non delivery of basic services to the populace such as safe drinking water and
expansion of the rural electrification project
●
Cessation of the construction and upgrading of essential public roads such as
the Sicunusa-Nhlangano road
●
Underdevelopment of rural agriculture through the Rural
●
Development Areas Programme – the mainstay of our economy
●
Lack of funding for the Small and Medium Enterprises [SMEs]
●
Non improvement of the 63% poverty level in the country
●
Shrinking scholarships for our children who have enrolled in tertiary education
●
Proposal of high taxes to fund the country’s deficit
●
Non remittance of monies to the Public Service Pensions Fund – A retirement
fund for Public Servants.
Whilst
these problems are deepening in our society, the Government has continued to;
●
Increase the budget for the state security organs which are the army, police
and correctional services
●
Unrelentingly increased recruitment in the aforementioned departments
●
Drastically decrease recruitment in other significant departments such as
Education, Health and Public Service
●
Maintain the high numbers of the delegations that go abroad
●
Maintain the high taxes on salaries and tariffs on utilities
●
Increase funding of state events as it was witnessed during the 50/50
celebrations, Umhlanga and Incwala.
●
Spend over E40 million in fuelling cars, paying for allowances and providing
daily meals for the members of the Royal Police Service [RSP] who were
dispatched to various schools around the country from October 2018 to run
external examinations.
3. Conclusion
As
the Public Sector Unions in the country, we will be engaging on a national
strike from 28 January 2019 and as such we call upon every concerned Swazi,
from all walks of life, who associates with the problems that were highlighted
above to partake in this National activity.
All
Government systems shall be down during these days. These include Government
offices, Ministries, departments, schools, clinics, healthcentres and
hospitals, transport department and many others. Let us ALL stand up and be
counted in this imperative exercise of making the Government of Swaziland to be
accountable to the people. Now is the Time!!!!
Let
us be united in consciousness as a people. Both the country and the future
belongs to all of us, both great and small. Let us shape our destiny..!!
Unity
of purpose, a force unparalleled!!!
Issued By: Public Sector Associations of
Swaziland [PSAS] Secretariat
Sikelela
Dlamini – SNAT Secretary General
Mobile
– +268 7626 6808/+268 7639 6803/+268
7926 6803
Emal- snatgs02@gmail.com
Celumusa
Tembe – NAPSAWU General Secretary
Mobile – +268 7604 7425
Email
– gs@napsawu.org.sz
Dumile
Dlamini – SNAGAP Secretary General
Mobile – +268 7802 6302
Emai – dumilemthupha@gmail.com
Sibusiso
Lushaba – SNA Secretary General
Mobile – +268 7802
6303
Email – Mahlelihle@gmail.com
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