By Thokozani Mazibuko
There are mounting frustrations among the staff at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), as the Association of Lecturers,
Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) has formally delivered a petition to the Acting Registrar, calling for the immediate restoration of crucial medical aid services.
This urgent appeal comes over a year after medical aid services for UNESWA employees were suspended, leaving more than 350 members and their dependents in a precarious position.
The suspension of medical aid has raised serious concerns about the well-being of employees and their families, with many suffering the consequences of payment disputes between the university management and medical aid providers.
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ALAAP members express collective dismay at what they describe as a “gamble” with their lives and the lives of their loved ones including children, spouses, and ageing parents as the university continues to deduct medical aid contributions from staff salaries without remitting these payments to service providers.
“This act is not merely administrative negligence; it is both immoral and criminal,” the petition states, highlighting the breach of the 2018 Terms and Conditions of Service, which guarantee medical aid provision to staff.
The document articulates the sentiment that although the university management is collecting contributions, the failure to forward these funds to medical aid providers is a direct violation of the trust placed in them by their employees.
During a Special General Meeting held on 11 October 2024, ALAAP members decided they could no longer tolerate the status quo. Their petition outlines two primary demands:
the restoration of medical aid for all affected members within seven working days of receipt of the petition, and a clear warning that failure to comply will lead to a collective labour strike beginning on the eighth working day.
“The patience of ALAAP Members has been tested beyond reason,” the petition declares, signifying a readiness to take decisive action if their demands are not met promptly.
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Should the strike proceed, it could significantly disrupt university operations, affecting both teaching and administrative functions at UNESWA.
It should be noted that this situation underscores a growing concern among public sector employees regarding the fundamental issues of compensation and health benefits,
raising broader questions about institutional accountability and employee rights in the region’s higher education sector.
