…as Minister of Labour publishes new wage regulations orders
BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – “The percentage range of negotiated increases is between 4% (minimum) and 20% (maximum)”.
This reads part of the statement published by Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi on the new Regulations of Wages Orders. The regulations contain newly reviewed wages and other basic minimum terms and conditions of service for workers, as specified by sectors.
The new wage regulations were agreed upon after negotiations in 18 different Wages Councils which were appointed by the Ministry to facilitate negotiations of wages and other basic minimum terms and conditions of service.
“The average increment across the 17 Sectors for this year is 9.37%, which reflects an increase by 2.12% when compared to last year’s average increment of 7.25%.,” said Minister Buthelezi in the statement.
The statement explains that the negotiated settlements considered several factors such as the inflation rate, cost/standard of living, as well as projected economic factors that might have either a positive or negative impact in the near future upon the various Sectors or Industries.
The Minister also clarified that sectors are not allowed to differ from the law in terms of which public holidays they recognise or do not recognise.
“One other major highlight in this year’s Regulations of Wages Orders is the removal of the Table of public holidays that were said to be either “recognised or not recognised” by that particular Sector/Industry as it has been the case for a long time now,” continued the statement.
There are currently 18 Wages Councils, of which 17 concluded their negotiations which resulted in the publication of the newly reviewed Regulations of Wages Orders. The Media Industry negotiated the highest increment, at 20%, while the Schools and Other Educational Institutions Support Staff Industry negotiated the lowest increment at 4%.
“All stakeholders, particularly Employers and Workers, are encouraged to obtain copies of the published Wages Gazettes from Webster Print, Mbabane, Government Revenue Offices, Government website: www.gov.sz – to be published next week), and from all Offices of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security,” concluded the Minister of Labour and Social Security.
