Members of Parliament (MPs) are also expected to benefit from the recently implemented salary review adjustments, potentially getting E69 251.91 if placed on the new salaries under notch 1.
Although politicians, including MPs and members of emabandla are not fully classified as civil servants, they will still benefit from the salary review just like the secretary to Cabinet is also expected to receive a salary adjustment this month.
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The basic salary of the secretary to Cabinet is projected to increase from Grade F5, which was E59 054.50, to E93 316.63 under the new salary structure, still within Grade F5, notch 1. Politicians are also expected to benefit from the review, moving from their basic salary of E51 088 under Grade F2, notch 3, to E69 251.91 under Grade F2, notch 1.
This adjustment represents a significant improvement in remuneration for legislators, aligning their pay with that of MPs in other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) previously noted that local MPs’ salaries were relatively low compared to their counterparts in other African jurisdictions.
If implemented, the reviewed salaries would bring Eswatini’s MPs closer to their regional peers in terms of the pay, with MPs in South Africa earning around E100 000, those in Lesotho earning E75 000, and Botswana MPs earning E53 074. Some legislators, who preferred anonymity, said they were still unaware of the final decision, but believed that they might benefit from the salary review if the secretary to cabinet’s salary was adjusted.
“When civil servants get the cost of living adjustment (CoLA), we normally also get a certain percentage as well and that happens systematically.
“We might also benefit from the salary review, but we have not been officially informed. As legislators, we welcome it,” said one MP. The MP added that they had not yet received their salaries for the month as they had been informed that payments would be delayed. “We usually get paid on the 18th of every month, but this time around, the Treasury Department informed us that we will receive our salaries on October 27,” he said.
On that note, Royal Commission Secretary Sidumo Mdladla said they did not engage directly with the consultant on the salary review, but confirmed that politicians’ salaries were linked to that of the secretary to cabinet.“Any adjustment made to the secretary to cabinet’s salary affects all salaries linked to his,” Mdladla said. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Mthundzi Shabangu, said the terms and conditions of politicians did not fall under his ministry.
He explained that the Royal Commission normally aligned them with civil service salary scales.
“We cannot speak on the terms, conditions, and salaries of politicians,” he said.
Salary Scales Overview
Old Pay Scale
| Grade | Notch 1 | Notch 2 | Notch 3 | Notch 4 | Notch 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | E39,753.83 | E40,946.33 | E42,563.83 | E44,266.42 | E45,110.08 |
| F2 | E48,155.92 | E49,600.58 | E51,088.67 | E52,621.33 | E54,199.92 |
| F3 | E54,470.92 | — | — | — | — |
| F4 | E56,105.17 | — | — | — | — |
| F5 | E59,054.50 | — | — | — | — |
New Pay Scale
| Grade | Notch 1 | Notch 2 | Notch 3 | Notch 4 | Notch 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | E62,675.17 | E63,926.67 | E65,207.25 | E66,511.42 | E67,841.67 |
| F2 | E69,251.92 | E70,636.92 | E72,049.67 | E73,490.67 | E74,960.50 |
| F3 | E76,488.83 | E78,018.58 | E79,578.92 | E81,170.50 | E82,793.92 |
| F4 | E84,500.58 | E86,190.58 | E89,672.67 | — | E91,466.08 |
| F5 | E93,315.83 | E95,182.17 | E99,027.58 | — | E101,008.19 |
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