Eswatini embarks on a safer future: Launch of the national occupational safety and health Policy

In 2019, with support from the ILO, the Kingdom of Eswatini conducted a situational analysis of the national Occupational Safety and Health system. This resulted with the National OSH Profile (2020), which was validated by stakeholders and highlighted several areas of concern, including:

• Absence of a national OSH policy
• Inadequate gender-responsive OSH application
• Insufficient enforcement capacity in the OSH inspectorate for emerging risks
• Lack of mechanisms to address OSH issues in the informal sector.
• Inconsistent generation of accident statistics and periodic performance reports

To address these issues, a National OSH Policy has been developed. The policy was adopted by the Eswatini government and the social partners. This policy demonstrates the government’s commitment to preventing occupational accidents and diseases, outlines guiding principles for action, and defines the responsibilities of relevant stakeholders.

In commemoration of World Day for Safety and health at work, Eswatini Ministry of Labour and Social Security and social partners, in collaboration with the ILO, launched the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy in Ezulwini, Eswatini.

Honourable Minister Phila Buthelezi, in his remarks: This year we have a two-in-one celebration. We are celebrating in great pride as we have developed a strategy to curtail the effects of hazards in the workplace. The country has seen the culmination of the first National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy.

Then further highlighted Governments support: “The Government as a Member State, has an obligation to safeguard the entire populace against any risks to safety and health that might arise out of or in connection with the activities of persons in the workplace.”

The policy implementation has already commenced with a Gap Analysis of the Occupational Safety and Health Legislation in Eswatini, aligned with core OSH conventions, conducted with support from the ILO Pretoria Office.

Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Ms Penny Munkawa, recalled the journey she had a privilege of walking, alongside the team of eager, unrelenting, and dedicated stakeholders and partners. This process commenced with an inclusive process to analyse the state of OSH in the country and translation of the findings and recommendations into actionable and forward-looking objectives and strategies. She further highlighted the importance of the Occupational Safety and Health Policy.

The policy demonstrates Eswatini’s movement towards a coordinated and system approach to administration of OSH functions in order to achieve the following:

• Sound and responsive national policies and legislation

• Coordination between authorities designated with OSH responsibilities

• Functional occupational health services

• Access to training and advisory services

• Collection and utilization of accurate OSH data through national systems for recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases.

Launching the National OSH Policy, helped raise awareness among stakeholders about their roles in implementing the National OSH Policy, enhance stakeholder involvement in the OSH agenda and further promote national dialogue on OSH to improve the workplace prevention culture.

This national launch was well attended by different stakeholders, from various government departments, and institutions which showed great interest in this policy, and its implementation.