MBABANE: Contract teachers who have been in the service for many years will go home without benefits since Government doesn’t pay their provident fund contributions.
Eswatini Government is accused of flouting labour laws by failing to pay provident fund contributions for contract teachers, resulting in hundreds of them going home without benefits despite being in service for many years.
Speaking to this Swaziland News, Sikelela Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers(SNAT) condemned the act adding that they were already working on it as a union.
“We will force Government to pay provident fund contributions for our members. For now, there\'s the 13th cheque which is the same as gratuity but we want Government to enforce both\", said the SNAT Secretary General .
Lady Howard Mabuza, the Minister of Education had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report.
Sithembile Dlamini* one of the affected contract teachers revealed that she has been employed as a contract teacher for over ten(10)years but she would leave the profession without any terminal benefits despite serving the Government for so long.
“What's even more painful is that I’m earning half of what I'm supposed to earn.As a Diploma holder I’m supposed to be earning around E10 000.00 but since I'm on contract I'm earning a paltry E 5000.00”said the affected teacher.
Contract teachers to go home with nothing