Eswatini Labour Insight

  Labour and Social Security Minister Phila Buthelezi (left) posing with the Board of Governors Chairperson Mzwandile Dlamini (right) and Executive Director Lomkhosi  Dlamini- Magagula (middle). (Picture courtesy of Ministry of Labour and Social Security social media platforms) Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, on Friday 10th October 2025,  appointed the Board of Governors of the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) for a three (3) year term in office.  The CMAC is a key labour market dispute resolution institution established by the principal labour relations legislation in Eswatini ,the Industrial Relations Act (2000 as amended). Section 62 of the IR Act (2000 as amended), titled ,Establishment of the Conciliation ,Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC), provides for the establishment of CMAC as a an independent body corporate.  The functions of the CMAC according to section 64 of the IR (2000 as amended) include ...

Minister Phila Buthelezi  (In traditional regalia) pictured with some of the newly appointed members of the ENPF Board  (picture courtesy of Ministry of Labour and Social Security social media platforms) Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze On Wednesday 08 October 2025 the Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi announced a new board for the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF).The announcement of the new board comes after the lapse of the term of office of the previous ENPF board on 15th September 2025. The previous board was chaired by TUCOSWA Secretary General Mduduzi Gina.  The newly appointed board is chaired by business person and football boss Derrick Shiba as its chairperson. The newly appointed Deputy Chairperson is Business Eswatini's Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  E. Nathi Dlamini. The rest of the newly appointed board members are Tokie Howe (Business Eswatini),Philasande Mthethwa (TUCOSWA),Wander Mkhonza (TUCOSWA) Themba Dlamini (FESBC),Phenduk...

Pictured Above: Singing of struggle songs during the PSUs Joint Mass Meeting at the SNAT Center in Manzini on Monday 6th October 2025 Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The Joint Mass Meeting of PSUs on Monday 6th October 2025 resolved to host a protest march on the Government of Eswatini to call for the implementation of the salary review and jobs grading report that has been submitted by the joint consultancy of Umelusi and Emergency Consultancies (The Consultant) on Wednesday 8th October 2025. The joint mass meeting of the PSUs first received a report from the Secretariat of the unions on what transpired at the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) on Friday 03 October 2025. According to the report the government and the unions were in agreement that the Scenario 3 be utilised to implement the salary review for all public service workers. According to the Secretary General of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Mayibongwe Masangane, the other four scenarios did not recommend any mone...

  Pictured above: PSUs members at the entrance of the Ministry of Public services in Mbabane in June 2025. Picture by the ELI Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze The Public Services Union leaders have called a mass meeting  for all public services union members or civil servants at the SNAT Center in Manzini on Monday 06 October 2025 at 0900 in the morning. The announcement was made by the PSU leaders on Friday 03 October 2025 in their online report back session after a meeting of the Joint Negotiations Forum (JNF) where they met with the negotiating team of the Government of Eswatini. The PSUs comprise of National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), the Swaziland National Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP), the  Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU).  The mass meeting is expected to receive a report from the leaders of the PSU's on what transpired at the JNF on Friday 03 October 2025, ther...

  Pictured Above: TUCOSWA President Bheki Mamba addressing the SNAT 79th/71st Annual Conference of Delegates The president of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland ( TUCOSWA ) Comrade Bheki Mamba has called for the unity of all workers in Eswatini . President Mamba made these remarks while addressing the 79th/77th Annual Conference of the teachers union, the  Swaziland National Association of Teachers ( SNAT ) that was held in Matsapha from 26th and 28th September 2025. The conference theme stated, "Strengthening workplace organisation through massive recruitment and deepening class consciousness" The president addressed several issues in his slightly above 30 minute address at the conference including imploring SNAT to use their conference to discuss issues including the Employment Bill 2025 and its implications of the hiring of teachers, the quality of education in Eswatini , harassment and sexual abuse at the workplace ,Employment of teachers on precarious contracts, t...

  NAPSAWU Acting General Secretary Comrade Msimeto Malindzisa (Picture Credit: NAPSAWU Facebook page) Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze On Sunday 21 September 2025 public sector trade union, the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) announced that they would be commencing with nationwide membership consultations on the salary review report on Monday 22 and on Tuesday 23 September 2025.  The announcement was made by the NAPSAWU Acting General Secretary (AGS) Comrade Msimeto Malindzisa on the union’s facebook page. AGS Msimeto announced that they are commencing with the consultations after being contacted by the consultant on Friday 19 th September 2025 whereat the union was given the green light to commence consultations with members on the report . The AGS further announced that each of the four region of Eswatini would host two consultation meetings, at two different towns, one to be held at 10 am and another at 1400hrs on each of the two days. ...

Public Services workers protesting in Mbabane (Credit: File picture) Witten by Fundizwi Sikhondze   The Eswatini Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg is suspected to have compromised collective bargaining or negotiations in the public service. The minister made the now controversial remarks on Tuesday 26th August 2025 while conducting what could be seen as a routine interview with state broadcasting channel, the Eswatini Television for their news feature, Market View.  During the interview when the subject of the salary review was broached the Minister expressed fear that financial constraints on the government may make the recommendations difficult to implement. "As a government as you know we have provided half a billion as a pre-emptive budget amount for salary review, To try and find more money in this year's budget will be very very be difficult and so unfortunately if the salary review is showing to be a much higher number we going to have to probably maybe negotiate wit...