MBABANE:Companies are moving the payment of salaries to their First National Bank(FNB) accounts and other banks as the ongoing strike action affects operations at Standard Bank Eswatini.
This comes after Mvuselelo Fakudze,the Standard Bank Chief Executive refused to award the striking workers a 7% salary adjustment increment,Fakudze had earlier assured customers that,operations won’t be affected.
But now, information gathered by this Swaziland News on Friday uncovered that,most organizations including Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) opted to transact via the FNB and other banks as payment transacted through Standard Bank delay to reflect on the beneficiaries accounts amid the strike action.
The Standard Bank Chief Executive declined to comment about the strike action except for the press statement where,he assured clients that operations won’t be affected.
But Jabu Shiba, the Secretary General(SG) of the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers(SUFIAW) told this publication that, Standard Bank was refusing to engage on the negotiation table.
“The strike continues as Standard Bank refuses to negotiate”, she said.
On another note,Brian Sangweni,the National Spokesperson of eSwatini's largest and main political party,the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) says, the political organization fully supports the ongoing Standard Bank strike action seeking to demand a salary increment.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Wednesday, shortly after releasing a press statement,the PUDEMO Spokesperson said,as an organization,they support activities that seeks to demand better working conditions for employees hence they endorsement for the ongoing strike action.
“Working conditions are influenced by political decisions and therefore,you cannot separate politics from labour issues.Investors are normally told by the Tinkhundla regime that there’s cheap labour in eSwatini and it for these reasons we saw Labour Minister Phila Buthelezi discouraging the strike.Going on strike is part of workers rights to demand better working conditions,”said the PUDEMO Spokesperson.
Companies move payment of salaries to their First National Bank(FNB) Eswatini accounts and other banks as strike action affects operations at Standard Bank.