National Workplace Wellness Policy for the Kingdom of Eswatini

The absence of a comprehensive workplace wellness policy in the Kingdom of Eswatini has hindered the effective coordination and management of health-related challenges affecting workers, including communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and occupational injuries and illnesses.

Without such a policy, enterprises often struggle to respond adequately to workers’ health issues, leading to serious consequences such as increased absenteeism, premature resignations, and even fatalities. These outcomes negatively impact productivity and, by extension, national economic development.

To address these challenges, Eswatini has implemented several initiatives, notably the establishment of the Public Sector HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (PSHACC). PSHACC’s mission is to prevent, mitigate, monitor, and manage both communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases among public sector employees. This is achieved through a holistic wellness and employee assistance programme aimed at promoting healthier workplaces and supporting worker well-being.

Complementing these public sector efforts, the private sector, led by Business Eswatini (BE) and Eswatini Business Health (EBH), has played a proactive role in promoting workplace wellness. BE has championed the institutionalisation of wellness as a pillar of enterprise sustainability, while EBH has introduced innovative approaches such as digital wellness tools and virtual consultations to extend health services beyond traditional work settings.

These contributions have strengthened national efforts and demonstrated the value of public-private collaboration in advancing occupational health and safety across all sectors.