Mbabane – Civil servants have received the long-awaited salary increases after the Government and Public Sector Unions (PSUs) signed the collective agreement confirming the full implementation of Scenario III of the national Salary Review.
The agreement confirms that the government will fully implement Scenario III of the long-awaited Salary Review, ensuring that all civil servants receive their full salary adjustments as recommended in the review.
According to the signed agreement, employees will receive back pay from April 2025, paid in two phases. The first 15% of the total back pay will be disbursed immediately, while the remaining 85% will be paid in July 2026, at the start of the second quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.
Civil servants will see the first changes reflected in their October 2025 pay slips, which will incorporate the revised salary structure and the first installment of back pay, covering the period from April 1 to September 30, 2025.
The agreement also makes provision for employees in salary grades that were not upgraded or were downgraded in the review. These employees will receive a one-off payment equivalent to 5% of their annual basic salary in October 2025.
In addition, the revised bus fare allowances will take effect this month, while the housing allowance for employees in Salary Bands C to F, along with other consequential allowances, will be gradually implemented and fully realized by July 2026.
The transition process ensures equity across all grades. Employees in Salary Bands A and B will move on a notch-to-notch basis, maintaining their relative positions within the new structure. Those in Salary Bands C to F will transition to notch 1 of their respective new grades.
The collective agreement was signed by representatives from the country’s major unions, including NAPSAWU, SNAT, SNA, and SNAGAP, together with the Government Negotiations Team. The agreement is binding on all parties and emphasizes collaboration in maintaining industrial harmony within the public service.
It further stipulates that the next salary review will take place in 2030, maintaining the agreed five-year review cycle. Any disputes arising from the implementation of this agreement will be referred to the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) for resolution.
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