Skip to main content

Eswatini Prime Minister Sipho Cleopas Dlamini calls for equality in the ILO

 

Eswatini Prime Minister Sipho Cleopas Dlamini addressing the ILO World of Work Summit during the International Labour Conference 2023 in Geneva Switzerland (Picture credit ILO).

Eswatini Prime Minister criticises the ILO unequal governance and one size fits all approach to tackling challenges

The Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, on Thursday 15th June 2023, addressed the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) World of Work Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit formed a part of the ILO’s International Labour Conference which ends on the 16th June and the summit’s theme was “Social Justice For All”.

In his address Prime Minister Dlamini firstly welcomed the initiative seeking to strengthen partnerships and enhance collaborations and cooperation between the ILO, its tripartite constituents (Employers, Governments and Workers), the wider United Nations multi-lateral system and other allied partners in order to promote policy coherence in the quest for social justice for all.

The ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo, in his keynote address to the World of Work Summit, had suggested the formation of a global coalition that would place social justice as its central theme. The coalition according to the DG would be based on solidarity, fairness and social justice. The coalition would also ensure that there is maximum participation in the United Nations Social Summit that is expected to take place in 2025.

The Prime Minister further stressed that coherence amongst multi-lateral actors was a key objective in fighting inequality through protecting workers rights particular the most vulnerable and marginalised.

The Prime minister then urged the ILO to refer to its 2021 the conference resolution where in strategic objectives of the seven pillars were agreed upon as concerning inequalities in the world of work. This coalition would boost for the provision of jobs through the provision of support to small and medium enterprises. Boost support of initiatives that ensure wage security and create quality opportunities for women and girls in the labour market as well as equal pay for work of equal value.

The Prime Minister then explored the issue that entails the fact that the success of the coalition requires equal participation amongst countries as well as policy coherence. He said, “We underscore that has been made by  Africa and other regions many times that have said that the success of the coalition would require full, equal and democratic participation in the ILO governance system, strong tripartism and the global solidarity.

He further said “The centenary declaration of the 2019 ILO Labour Conference decreed that social justice can be achieved in all regions of the world and that full contribution of the ILO constituents to this endeavour can be assured only through their full, equal and democratic participation in its tripartite governance. An ILO that leads the global coalition must reflect the ideals of democratic governance so that it is able to stimulate discussions to reverse and eliminate inequality amongst countries”.

An ILO poster of the address of Prime Minister Dlamini


The Prime Minister further appealed all countries to ratify 1986 instrument of constitutional amendment remains pendulum to assure equality, fairness and social justice. The 1986 instrument addressed three important areas according to the ILO, the composition and the governance of the ILO Governing body, the procedure for the appointment of the ILO Director General and rules governing the amendment constitution of the ILO.

In closing the Prime Minister urged the ILO not have a one size fits all approach in tackling challenges but developments need to be contextualised and take into consideration the specifics of each member country. The Prime Minister was likely referring to the reporting that is expected from Eswatini government in reference to forced labour where in the ILO views the labour statutes of the country not to decisively outlaw forced labour. To this criticism the government of Eswatini has argued that there are instances of cultural tribute labour that need to be accommodated in the labour statutes.

 The World of Work summit was addressed by a total of sixteen (16) leaders (inclusive of Prime Minister Dlamini) from countries such as the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Bangladeshi, the Prime Minister of the Barbados Mia Mottley, just to name a few.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NAPSAWU HAS SUSPENDED THREE NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS

Written by Staff Reporter The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) National General Council (NGC) ,on Thursday 15 th February 2024, suspended three of its National Office Bearers (NOBs), two of whom are believed to be principal officers. Principal Officers number up to three in trade unions and are the President, General Secretary and the Treasurer. The suspension of two of them may therefore demonstrate the seriousness of the matter just barely six months since the current NOBS took office in August 2023. The suspension of the trio is reported to have come after it had been discovered that they were one way or another involved in alleged misappropriation of undisclosed NAPSAWU funds believed to  amounting to more than one hundred thousand and seventy thousands (more than E170 000) emalangeni. The funds according to reliable sources are believed to have been approved funds for union activities but were later discovered to have been diverted into pers...

The history of Swaziland Labour Law

1.    THE HISTRORY OF SWAZI LABOUR LAW – BY NATHI GUMEDE It is difficult to proceed with issues of individual and collective Swazi Labour law without outlining the key events in the history of the Swazi Labour Movement. Though by no means comprehensive and very accurate, here are some events that have shaped Swazi Labour Law. 1937 – Wages Determining Proclamation 1947 – Trade Union Dispute Proclamation No 31 of 1942 1960 – F.C. Catchpole Commission on Labour Relations Socialization reports absence of trade unions 1962 – Pulp and Timber Worker’s Union established with Pan-Africanist influence as the first trade union; the union called the first strike the same year 1963 - Second Strike of the Pulp and Timber Worker’s Union spread into a National Strike (66,000 man hours). The National strike led to the formation of the Swaziland Democratic party and the Swaziland Progressive Party. The strike was thwarted by the First Battalion of Gordon Highlands from Ken...

SIKELELA NGWENYA MAKES A COMEBACK AS PRESIDENT OF NAWUSHI

Sikelela Ngwenya makes a comeback as President of NAWUSHI  Picture: Newly elected President of NAWUSHI Comrade Sikelela Ngwenya (Picture courtesy of Comrade Sikelela on Facebook) Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze Comrade Sikelela Ngwenya has made a comeback as the president of the National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI). This after getting elected to the position at their 1st quadrennial conference that took place at eSibayeni lodge in Matsapha on the 24th and 25th March 2022. To win the position comrade Sikelela beat off a stiff challenge  from Comrade Simon Dlamini from the Sebenta National Institute branch of NAWUSHI.  Comrade Sikelela is one of two  leaders of the previous NEC that were re-elected into the new NEC in the conference. The other NEC member that made it back is comrade Mpendulo Mkhonta  and he retained the position of Vice Treasurer. It is worth noting that Comrade Sikelela had previously served in the same position of...