TUCOSWA activists during a protest action (file picture)
On Monday 14th November 2022 the newly appointed Prime Minister Mr Russell M Dlamini announced the appointment of cabinet ministers who he would be leading the 12th Eswatini’s administration with. The ministers ranged from familiar faces in the form of Neal Rijkenberg, Pholile Shakantu, Prince Simelane, Princess Lindiwe, Mancoba Khumalo, Thuli Dladla , Phila Buthelezi, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Mabulala Maseko and Thambo Gina. There are also new faces such as Apollo Maphalala, Skhumbuzo Dlamini, Mduduzi Matsebula, Mandla Tshawuke, Bongani Nzima, Savannah Maziya, Jane Mkhonta and Prince Lonkhokhela and not so new faces like Owen Nxumalo a former Minister of Public Service who makes a return after being absent for a five year term.
The most anticipated appointed ministerial appointment as far as workers are concerned ofcourse is the Minister of Labour and
Social Welfare who this time around happened to be Phila Buthelezi who had
previously held the same position in the immediate past administration headed
by Cleopas Dlamini as Prime Minister.
Minister Buthelezi has perhaps been returned to
complete work he was already undertaking in the ministry, as to the exact
nature of such work perhaps only the Prime minister will tell in due course. To determine the
perspective of workers towards expectations for the minister's new tenure the Eswatini
Labour Insight (ELI) approached three trade union leaders to state their unions' top expectations from the new tenure of Minister Buthelezi.
TUCOSWA
From the workers federation, the Trade Union Congress
of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) the Secretary General Mduduzi Gina highlighted that they would be quite happy if the minister can make as his first priority the issue repairing of relations
between the employers and workers unions. To this end SG Gina pointed out that this
particularly referred to the public service where relations are at an all-time
low. Further, SG Gina added that , "The repairing of relations ofcourse would extend to the government
ensuring that they end the violation of International Labour Organisation (ILO)
conventions so that disagreements are not escalated to the international forums
by workers as they have habitually done in the past".
Secondly, TUCOSWA ,according to SG Gina, wanted the converting the Eswatini National Provident Fund
into a full pension fund to be priority because it seems unfair that workers contribute to the
fund throughout their working life and then be given a once off lump sum when
they retire as if they had been saving their wages in a bank all along.
Thirdly, TUCOSWA would like to see the new minister
prioritising the completion of the enactment of the Industrial Relations Bill
and a full act as well as the Employment Bill. The bills have already gone
through the Labour Advisory Board and are awaiting cabinet’s action in preparation for being taken to parliament.
SCAWU
For the retail sector the Secretary General of the Swaziland Commercial and Allied Workers Union (SCAWU) Philasande
Mthethwa highlighted their three priorities as, addressing labour brokerage,
solving issues related to short term contracts and expediting the passing of
the Employment Bill into an act of Parliament.
On labour brokers SG Mthethwa
highlighted that as a union the practice of labour brokering and triangular
employment in general results in precarious working conditions and hence SCAWU wants it
abolished as a union. On short-term contracts Secretary General Mthethwa
highlighted that SCAWU had realised that most workers in the retail sector were
working through short-term contracts which can lead to job insecurity and
instability in employment. This is why they are lobbying for legislation that
ensures fair treatment, reasonable notice periods and access to benefits for
workers across different sectors.
On the passing of the Employment Bill into a full Act
of Parliament because the bill addresses various labour related issues including
the protection of vulnerable workers. “Prioritisation the swift enacting of
this bill would provide a solid foundation for better labour practices and also
protect the rights of workers across different sectors including ofcourse
retail sector”.
Other issues that the Secretary General Philasande
wished to highlight was the issue of resourcing and capacitation of labour inspectors, legislation to ensure that there is full payment of severance pay
and ensuring that there is National Minimum Wage in the country.
NAWUSHI
The National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher
Institutions (NAWUSHI) through its Secretary General Stanley Simelane outlined
three priority areas, Union Bashing victimisation of workers, Underfunding of
tertiary institutions and outsourcing and redundancy.
In terms of union bashing the SG Simelane said, “Some of our
branches are victimising our members for availing themselves to serve in office.
Their contracts are not renewed, continuously harassed by Management”. In
reference to underfunding institutions the SG Simelane said, “Tuition takes forever to
be released and as a result the state of infrastructure is deplorable. He added
that, “Tuition and subvention not adequate to run universities as it was last
adjusted in 2015”. When it comes to outsourcing the SG Simelane said, “Universities are
taking decisions to outsource without conducting due engagement with unions, nor
do they engage in scientific studies to analyse the financial feasibilities of
their actions. They just go willy nilly on their own as employers”.
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