Mbabane – Government and Public Sector Unions (PSUs) are nearing an agreement on the protracted civil service salary review after a revised offer was presented on October 8, 2025. The proposal could see employees receiving just over E1 billion in the first phase of implementation.
The total cost of fully implementing the salary review across all categories is E1.6 billion, with the new government offer representing 64 percent of the approved Category Three of the salary review report, up from the previous E500 million. If accepted, 36 percent, or approximately E576 million, would remain outstanding.
The revised proposal includes:
- 64 percent implementation of Category Three of the salary review report, totaling E1.024 billion.
- 50 percent implementation of allowances for most categories.
- Categories A and B employees will receive 100 percent of their salaries plus a 5 percent once-off payment, which was not initially recommended by consultants.
Negotiations were described as constructive by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Mthunzi Shabangu, with government presenting the revised offer in a “positive spirit” that was well received by the forum of negotiations.
The timing of the revised offer coincided with a mass march of thousands of civil servants to the Prime Minister’s Office, petitioning for the full implementation of the salary review.
SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati confirmed that unions would meet their members on the morning of October 9, 2025, to discuss the proposal, before reconvening with government at 2:00 PM to provide feedback and determine the way forward. Vilakati also stated that the target payday of October 21 remains achievable.
Selected grade increases under the revised offer
| Grade | Step | Old Scale (E) | 1st Phase (E) | Phased % | Allowances % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | 1 | 268,485 | 391,245 | 45.7 | 50 | Categories A & B receive 100% + 5% once-off |
| E1 | 5 | 302,053 | 426,383 | 41.2 | 50 | – |
| E2 | 1 | 306,871 | 435,253 | 41.8 | 50 | – |
| E2 | 5 | 346,822 | 476,249 | 37.5 | 50 | – |
| D3 | 3 | 229,610 | 311,475 | 35.7 | 50 | – |
| D3 | 5 | 243,593 | 325,760 | 33.7 | 50 | – |
| E5 | 1 | 538,488 | 627,565 | 17.6 | 50 | – |
| E5 | 5 | 600,446 | 738,398 | 14.7 | 50 | – |
The table reflects a phased increase across job grades, showing both the old scales and first-phase adjustments. The allowance percentages indicate the proportion of additional allowances included in the offer.
This structured increase is intended to address long-standing demands from civil servants while keeping government’s financial constraints in mind.
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