UNI protests at plans to dissolve Swaziland unions
UNI Global Union has strongly condemned plans to dissolve the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and the Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA).
The protest comes a day after the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Winnie Magagula, held a press conference and announced a Cabinet resolution deciding that pending legal reforms all federations should stop operating immediately.
Federations were called upon to submit reports of their operations to date including their prepared audited financial statements to the Commissioner of Labour.
In a letter to the Swaziland Prime Minister, UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings said, “This decision will affect not only TUCOSWA and ATUSWA but also the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of the Swazi Business Community.”
Tripartite bodies such as the Wages Council, Labour Advisory Board, Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission, Swaziland National Provident Fund, Training and Localisation Committee and the Social Dialogue Committee will stop functioning as a result.
Jennings pointed out that an ILO High Level Fact Finding Mission had visited the country in January 2014 recommended the registration of the worker and employer federations by end of April 2014.
Jennings said, “The Swaziland government has completely ignored these recommendations as well as repeated calls from the international trade union movement to respect rights guaranteed under international conventions ratified by Swaziland, in particular ILO Convention No. 87. Instead you have now suspended workers’ right to freely associate and to carry out trade union activities completely. This decision also goes against the decision of the Industrial Court which recognised that TUCOSWA could operate in terms of its own constitution. We are shocked that you even argue that your actions are required by the ILO – nothing could be further from the truth.”
Jennings concluded in the letter, “We urge you to revoke the decision to dissolve TUCOSWA and ATUSWA and to start engaging in a genuine dialogue with unions about legislative reforms that will ensure that workers’ rights are respected in line with Swaziland’s international obligations without any further delay.
“We remain hopeful that your government will act responsibly but is also prepared to invoke Article 26 of the ILO Constitution.”
UNI protests at plans to dissolve Swaziland unions
UNI Global Union has strongly condemned plans to dissolve the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and the Amalgamated Trade Unions of Swaziland (ATUSWA).
The protest comes a day after the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Winnie Magagula, held a press conference and announced a Cabinet resolution deciding that pending legal reforms all federations should stop operating immediately.
Federations were called upon to submit reports of their operations to date including their prepared audited financial statements to the Commissioner of Labour.
In a letter to the Swaziland Prime Minister, UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings said, “This decision will affect not only TUCOSWA and ATUSWA but also the Federation of Swaziland Employers and Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of the Swazi Business Community.”
Tripartite bodies such as the Wages Council, Labour Advisory Board, Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission, Swaziland National Provident Fund, Training and Localisation Committee and the Social Dialogue Committee will stop functioning as a result.
Jennings pointed out that an ILO High Level Fact Finding Mission had visited the country in January 2014 recommended the registration of the worker and employer federations by end of April 2014.
Jennings said, “The Swaziland government has completely ignored these recommendations as well as repeated calls from the international trade union movement to respect rights guaranteed under international conventions ratified by Swaziland, in particular ILO Convention No. 87. Instead you have now suspended workers’ right to freely associate and to carry out trade union activities completely. This decision also goes against the decision of the Industrial Court which recognised that TUCOSWA could operate in terms of its own constitution. We are shocked that you even argue that your actions are required by the ILO – nothing could be further from the truth.”
Jennings concluded in the letter, “We urge you to revoke the decision to dissolve TUCOSWA and ATUSWA and to start engaging in a genuine dialogue with unions about legislative reforms that will ensure that workers’ rights are respected in line with Swaziland’s international obligations without any further delay.
“We remain hopeful that your government will act responsibly but is also prepared to invoke Article 26 of the ILO Constitution.”