Global General

Swaziland may not meet June civil service payroll

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-11 13:28

MBABANE, Swaziland - Swaziland's finance minister says the impoverished southern African kingdom may not be able to pay civil servants next month.

Majozi Sithole, speaking on state radio Monday, said the government already is struggling with this month's pay.

Government workers joined pro-democracy protests last month after Sithole presented an austerity budget that called for freezing civil service salaries for the next three years.

Union leader Vincent Dlamini told the AP Tuesday that workers will take to the streets again if they are not paid in June.

Swaziland depends on a share of regional customs revenue under an agreement with neighboring countries. Revenues though have dropped amid the global financial crisis.