By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MATSAPHA: Ngwane Mills trading as FeedMaster is paying its employees a mere five hundred and sixty-two Rands(R562.00) forthnight salary.

Eswatini is a tiny Kingdom with about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, King Mswati’s Government contributed to the poverty situation by approving Gazettes allowing employers to exploit workers.

*Sanele Matsebula, a FeedMaster employee said the R562.00 he received from Ngwane Mills on the 30th November 2022 was his two-weeks salary.

“This is my two weeks salary, I am expected to survive with this R562.00. Per-month its R1124,”he said.

Reached for comments,Samuel Simelane, the Ngwane Mills(FeedMaster) Logistics  Manager said he was only in charge of the transport department and not aware of how employees in the production department were salaried.

“I am in charge of the transport department and not aware how employees in the production department were paid. I can only assist you to contact the Production Manager,” said the Logistics Manager.

Wander Mkhonza, the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(ATUSWA) said the issues of low salaries were affecting workers even at family level.

“We are happy that workers are now speaking out, before, employees were treating issues of salaries as a top secret. These issues affect workers even at family level, back home siyetfukwa kutsiwe imali siyidla nebantfu besifazane noma uma uwesifazane kutsiwe uyidla nemadvodza kani kute yona lemali, asiholi lutfo. We need to stand-up as workers and demand decent salaries,” said the ATUSWA Secretary General.