Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

INCREASE GRANTS BY 100%, MINIMUM WAGE - UNIONS

By Nonduduzo Kunene | 2022-07-28

Mbabane - Trade unions have called upon government to increase social grants by 100 per cent.

In so doing, they gave government until next week Friday to have responded to their concerns, which they said if addressed, would help alleviate some of the financial challenges faced by the nation.

They urged government to give workers a chance to voice their concerns and address them accordingly.

The unions stated that they were willing to meet with government and be part of the solution through sharing ideas about allocation of resources.

The unions, led by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), yesterday delivered petitions to four government departments, including the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, which is responsible for grants.

The departments were the prime minister’s office and DPM’s office, ministries of labour and social security, and commerce, industry and trade.

Despite exceeding the limited number of people allowed to march without permission from the municipal council, the march proceeded as petitions were delivered in all government ministries without any challenges.

The numbers grew as they proceeded to other ministries.
In as much as there was a minor clash between marchers and some police officers, the petitions were delivered rather peacefully.

Decrying the increasing cost of commodities and services, in particular fuel and bread, the unions called upon government to increase the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) grant from E2 500 to E4 000 per learner.

TUCOSWA Secretary General Mduduzi Gina, who delivered the petition received by the Principal Secretary, Melusi Masuku, said this would ensure that there were sufficient provisions in schools.

Gina said by increasing the OVC grant, the country’s education system would take its rightful place and save the economy from total collapse.
He said the current amount allocated for each learner was insufficient to cater for the actual cost of their education.

He stated that schools with a higher enrolment of OVC were unable to provide adequate teaching tools and materials for learners.

The unions further stated that the elderly grant should also be increased to E1 500 monthly from E500 per month.

He said the grant currently paid to the elderly made it difficult for them to make ends meet.
“Since the elderly are the main sector of our society, their proper upkeep becomes very important. A country that neglects its elderly population attracts a curse,” he said.

serious

Gina said government’s lack of a concrete action in improving the situation was a serious call for concern.

He said if government failed to implement robust solutions to improve the economy, the country would experience a deep economic crisis and the increase in prices of food and services would continue.

Further, he said operating mines in Eswatini was likely to save the crippling economy so long as the profits would be allocated to the state.

“Profits from natural resources should benefit Emaswati,” he said.
TUCOSWA first SG Winile Mlotsa, during a petition delivery at the ministry of labour and social security, decried what she described as a serious violation of the fundamental trade union rights by government.

Mlotsa stated that they were troubled by the fact that the minimum wage in the country was still way below E3 500.

“We are concerned about your response to the textile workers; that they are happy with the E12 per hour earnings, which they had proved they were unhappy with especially in the rising cost of living,” she said.

Mlotsa wondered if the delay in distribution of student allowances and scholarships would ever come to an end.

She called on the ministry to urge the private sector to give better salaries to workers to enable them to increase their buying power, which would enhance economy circulation.

tertiary

Also, she called upon government to declare a plan on scholarships and education of tertiary students.

Still on minimum wage, Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) President Wonder Mkhonza said textile workers struggled to even buy decent grocery items.

According to Mkhonza, there were industries that had lower wages than the textile workers.
He said a decent monthly grocery for a single person cost E1 700 while the minimum wage was E1 000.

Mkhonza wondered where government thought workers would get the rest of the funds for other basic commodities.

He said it was high time government considered increasing the minimum wage.

share story