The Swaziland Government is threatening to sack all striking teachers unless they return to work.
Teachers have been on an indefinite strike for the past month. They have been joined by public servants and nurses.
Minister of Education and Training, Wilson Ntshangase, told the Swazi Parliament yesterday (18 July 2012), that any teacher who was absent from work for more than three days running with no valid reason could be lawfully sacked.
He said this law would be used against striking teachers if they did not return to work on or before 24 July.
Teachers are striking for a 4.5 percent pay increase. Their peaceful protests have been met with violence from state riot police in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Ntshangase told parliament, ‘The striking teachers have become too volatile. It’s no longer about a 4.5 per cent salary adjustment, it’s about something else.’ Strikers have also been protesting about the way the government handles the economy, which is in freefall.
The Government has already announced it will stop salary payments to striking teachers from this week.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Lutfo Dlamini, told the House of Assembly that the strike was illegal.
See also
POLICE SEAL PARLIAMENT FROM PROTEST
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/07/police-seal-parliament-from-protest.html
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