Swazi Observer

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GOVT OWES SOME CENSUS WORKERS OVER E1 MILLION

By Mbono Mdluli | 2018-04-12

Government still owes enumerators around E1 million in respect of overtime allowances.

The enumerators were engaged last year to take part in the national population census from April to May. One of the outcomes of the census was to the effect that Swazis were now 1.1 million.

However, some enumerators were not paid their overtime allowances, which they accumulated during the time when they were employed to conduct the census. Up to this day, the enumerators are still hoping that government would be able to pay them one day.

One enumerator, who now resides in the northern Hhohho region, stated that they were supposed to be paid E100 for each day in respect of overtime allowances.

“Government told us that it would pay us overtime allowances accumulated over a period of 130 days, even though we know that we worked for 160 days. We had no choice, but to accept the 130 days imposed on us,” the enumerator said. If the enumerators worked for 130 days, they could be paid about E13 000 each.

This translates to E1.3 million for all the enumerators said to be owed by government.

The enumerator said they had made countless visits to the statistics department in the ministry of economic planning and development, but nothing was promising at this stage.

He said they now banked their hopes on Members of Parliament (MPs) to work on their matter so that they could get their money.

He said they had made contact with Mbabane East MP Esther Dlamini to help them by ensuring their matter was addressed by Parliament.

However, MP Esther could not be reached on her phone when called to comment on the matter.

Zombodze Emuva MP Titus Thwala said he was aware of the matter. He had a case of enumerators who were still not paid in his inkhundla. Thwala further stated that the matter was raised during the debate of the performance report and 2018/2019 budget estimates of the ministry of economic planning and development.

The MP said Minister for Economic Planning and Development Prince Hlangusemphi promised to work on the matter to pay the enumerators. Thwala said the minister showed them that he was indeed working on the matter and there was a big light at the end of the tunnel regarding the matter.

However, the minister could also not be reached for comment when called on the matter.

Nkwene MP Sikhumbuzo Dlamini was also aware of the matter. He said he only became aware after it was debated at committee stages. The only thing that could help them as MPs was to move a motion on the matter. He had promised to second MP Esther on the matter.

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