By Nokwanda Mamba

MBABANE: Mabulala Maseko, the Minister of Public Service  has justified the awarding of the 3% Cost of Living Adjustment(COLA) to the Eswatini Principals Association(EPA).

This comes after the country’s four Public Sector Unions (PSUs) reached a deadlock with Government over the Salary Review negotiations.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on  Monday, the Minister said the EPA had a Recognition Agreement with Government  adding that it had a right to negotiate for salaries on its own.

“The EPA has a right to negotiate with the employer just like the other unions. We are not worried about the division within the  public service since that’s up to the civil servants to decide if they want to be divided", said the Minister.

Welcome Mhlanga, the President of the Eswatini Principals Association(EPA) had not responded to our questions at the time of compiling this report. 

It has been gathered that the 3% COLA will only benefit schools Principals and Managers across the Public Service.

Reached for comments, Mbongwa Dlamini, the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) slammed Government for negotiating with the EPA outside the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) which was the only platform for salary negotiations. 

“Government is brewing anarchy, we are going to defend our rights.Right now we have reached a deadlock with Government over an Agenda in the negotiations table,we are doing everything according to the laid down rules.We are slowly learning from Government that we can disregard rules and do what we want and they must be ready for what they are cooking,”said the SNAT President.