Eswatini advances labour rights with key workshop on Freedom of Association

In a significant step toward strengthening labour rights, Eswatini recently hosted a pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing the implementation of its Code of Practice for Industrial and Protest Action. The event, organized with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), brought together key stakeholders to discuss challenges and progress in ensuring the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Eswatini has demonstrated its commitment to international labour standards by ratifying several key international and regional human rights instruments. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981). Additionally, the country has ratified all eight fundamental ILO Conventions, including the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

The application of Conventions No. 87 and 98 by Eswatini has been under discussion at the International Labour Conference Committee on the Application of Standards since 1996. A tripartite High-Level Mission (HLM) in 2010 recommended improved dialogue between social partners and law enforcement to ensure peaceful demonstrations and protest actions. This led to the adoption of the Code of Practice for Industrial and Protest Action (Legal Notice No. 202) in 2015, which has since been recognized as a key instrument for maintaining industrial peace and stability.

However, recent implementation challenges prompted the Government of Eswatini to seek ILO support in hosting a workshop to assess the Code’s application across all regions. The workshop focused on sensitizing participants about international and regional labour rights instruments, identifying barriers to effective implementation, and fostering greater collaboration among stakeholders.

Key outcomes of the workshop included enhanced understanding of international labour standards, improved dialogue among social partners, and the identification of critical areas requiring further intervention to ensure the effective exercise of labour rights. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Royal Swazi Police Service, municipal leaders, trade union federations, and employers’ organizations.

The workshop represents another step forward in Eswatini’s efforts to align its labour laws and practices with international standards. By fostering meaningful dialogue and addressing implementation gaps, the country continues to strengthen its labour relations framework, ensuring greater protection of workers’ rights and industrial stability.