The decision was made by the Wage Council following several negotiations in February 2014, however, the wage increase is still to be made legal by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security through a legal notice in the official gazette.

However, textile and apparel workers in the country are not in agreement with the wage increase and are seeking negotiations with apparel firms to provide a wage increase of more than 5.5 percent.

Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union (SMAWU) secretary general Zweli Sihlongonyane said the workers unions had applied initially for an 18 percent hike in salaries, but the Wage Council has decided on 5.5 percent.

Mr. Sihlongonyane said the union would continue to negotiate with companies to provide a better wage hike stating that workers were not happy with the Wage Council’s decision as the hike is much less than what they had asked for.

The union wants employers to give workers something they can live on and it would continue to discuss the issue with employers in order to get a better wage hike, he added.

Currently, as per the official gazette, the textile and apparel industry workers in the country get paid between E212 to E455 per week. The wages vary according to the different categories.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India