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”.
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.
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