Swazi Observer

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GOVERNMENT OFFERS YET ANOTHER 0.0%

By Sabelo Majola | 2018-12-07

A three hour Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) between government and public sector associations (PSA) could bear no fruits as the two parties finally signed a deadlock.

The deadlock between government and the PSAs was signed at the ministry of public service yesterday with the meeting chaired by Secretary to Cabinet Mbuso Dlamini and signing on behalf of the Government Negotiation Team (GNT) was the ministry’s Principal Secretary Evart Madlopha.

The deadlock signed by the GNT and the public sector associations dates back to 28 august 2018 when the negotiations on the Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) commenced for the 2018/2019 financial year.

The PSAs have demanded a 6.2 per cent increment, which was rejected by government. Government tabled an offer of zero per cent owing to the ailing economy that has seen the cabinet implementing cost cutting measures that include banning of first class air travel as part of a slew of measures to control spending.

Signed

The PSAs are the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), the National Public Service and Allied workers union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland Nurses Association (SNA) and the Swaziland National Association of government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) and all presidents of the PSAs signed the deadlock.

agreed

The parties had agreed on the negotiations to continue in a series of meetings until yesterday where parties agreed to disagree on their negotiations.

The negotiations were based on the following; the public sector associations tabled 6.55 per cent CoLA 2018/2019 demand whilst the (GNT) offered 0.0 per cent CoLA 2018/19 across the board with effect from the 1 April 2018.

It was yesterday’s negotiation where the parties agreed to disagree on the negotiating table, resulting in the signing of the deadlock that will require the intervention of the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC).

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