MBABANE – Twenty-two public servants and members of the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) are expected to be reinstated to work within three weeks.
This was confirmed by the NAPSAWU President, Bawinile Ndlovu, during a public briefing, who described it ‘a landmark achievement for the union.
“We commend our members for their patience and trust in the union. This agreement restores not only their employment but also their dignity,” Ndlovu said, also crediting the persistence of the union and the resilience of the affected workers.
The government is on board in this following the signing of a collective agreement on July 23, 2025, between the Government Negotiations Team (GNT) and NAPSAWU.
Government representatives R. Phungwayo (Acting Chairperson) and M. Shabangu signed on behalf of the GNT the agreement which signals a renewed commitment to lawful labour relations as well as the recognition of unions as key stakeholders in protecting workers’ rights.
The agreement resolves the dispute stemming from the 2021 abolition of the Mechanization Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Computer Services Department in the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT).
Several negotiation sessions have dragged up until this week to the detriment of over two dozen public servants.
In 2021,the Mechanization Unit under Agriculture and the Computer Services wing under ICT were dissolved as part of internal restructuring.
The government terminated most contracts and pay-out benefits, excluding the 22 employees.
Prior to the signing ceremony, 20 employees from the Mechanization Department and 2 from the ICT Computer Services Department remained in limbo unpaid and without re-engagement, although most of the affected employees received their terminal benefits at the time.
These workers were left without clarity on their employment status, soon after, legal and union interventions ensued.
NAPSAWU approached the Industrial Court for redress. On April 27, 2022, the Industrial Court granted favour to NAPSAWU.
The government was found to have unlawfully acted when it bypassed the union and engaged directly with individual members. The government was ordered to negotiate with NAPSAWU the futures of the affected workers.
This week, however, it affirms that all 22 employees will be re-engaged to comparable or identical posts to those they held before the departments were dissolved or to any other suitable position within the civil service.
The Department of Management Services (MSD) in consultation with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and relevant ministries, will coordinate, it was said.
According to the agreement, the logistics and consultations necessary to place the workers will begin immediately and are expected to be completed within three weeks.
The parties have also committed to receiving regular updates on the matter and continuing discussions around compensation, which could be considered for the employees’ time out of service since their departments were abolished.
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