Eswatini Labour Insight

  Picture sourced from the internet Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze On 11 th July 2023 Eswatini absolute ruler King Mswati III conducted the end of term address for the 12 th parliament of the country at his residence in Lobamba. As usual for this gathering dubbed Sibaya and that takes place at the kings residence at Lobamba Citizens are being bussed from across the country, dignitaries and heads of foreign missions are also invited to attend. In this session the king started off by conducting a brief overview of the ending term of office of the government , announced the end of the parliamentary term of office. The King concluded by announcing that after the conclusion of the parliamentary elections he will convene another similar national gathering (Sibaya) where every citizen will be able to express themselves freely about the future of the country. The announcement predictably was met with mixed feelings and immediately split the country’s body politic into two blocs of pro...

NAPSAWU and ESWACA emblems (sourced from the respective websites)  Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze (Publisher)  The Times of Eswatini (TOE) on 15th December 2023 reported that  the Industrial Court of Eswatini has dismissed an application by the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACA) aviation security officers (workers) to have their salaries adjusted beyond class 2 salary range. Through their trade union the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) the workers had approached the industrial court in a bid to force the ESWACA to  increase their salaries from class 2 to class 1. To argue their case the workers cited the ESWACA's Advancement and Promotions Procedure as well as the National Civil Aviation Security Training Programme (NCASTP). In accordance with these policies ESWACA security officers had to undergo aviation screener licence* renewal every 24 months. In order to renew the screener licences every two years they had to undergo training ...

TUCOSWA national leaders, as well as leaders of committees leaders posing for a pictures with the Commissioner of Labour Mthunzi Shabangu at their Minimum Wage Symposium in Manzini on the 14th December 2023. Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze - Publisher On Thursday 14th December 2023 the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) held a National Minimum Wage Symposium in Manzini to launch their campaign for the establishment of a national minimum wage in Eswatini.  The symposium brought together TUCOSWA national leaders ,leaders of the trade union affiliates of TUCOSWA ,the Commissioner of Labour Mthunzi Shabangu ,representatives of the informal workers , representatives of students (SNUS), representatives of the Swaziland Unemployed People's Movement (SUPMO). The proceedings of the symposium were opened through a speech by the President of TUCOSWA Comrade Bheki Mamba and he also introduced guests who included a delegation from the Norwegian Workers Federation,  the LO Norge. The...