eSwatini

eSwatini, Swaziland, worker rights, human rights, Solidarity Center

The Solidarity Center is working with union federations in Africa and internationally to build solidarity and urge the eSwatini government to protect freedom of association and other basic rights. Credit: Solidarity Center/Kate Conradt

The Solidarity Center in eSwatini is building labor solidarity in Africa and at the international level to help the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) exercise its right to form unions and protect its leadership from government attacks. The Solidarity Center has also worked with transportation unions, successfully increasing their organizing and bargaining capacity, and helped TUCOSWA conduct research on working conditions in Swaziland’s textile industry.

Unions and opposition parties pressing for a transition to greater parliamentary democracy have been severely repressed, with grassroots leaders beaten and imprisoned and groups banned from participating in civil society. TUCOSWA has consistently been targeted by the government.

The Solidarity Center is working with trade union federations in Africa and at the international level to build solidarity and urge the government to protect freedom of association, register TUCOSWA and cease attacks on TUCOSWA’s leadership.

Media Contact

Kate Conradt
Communications Director
(+1) 202-974 -8369

 

Migrant Mine Worker in South Africa: ‘We Have Nothing’

As a migrant mine worker from Swaziland, Mduduzi Thabethe says he has fewer workplace rights than his South African co-workers. Although all mine workers pay the same amount into the health fund, migrant workers get inferior care and pensions are rare. “If you are a...

African Unions Champion Worker Rights at AGOA Forum

Meeting in Togo for the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum this month, nearly 20 leaders from key African trade unions joined forces to advance the creation of good jobs and safe workplaces through fair trade. The forum “is a venue for workers to...

‘Fair Migration’ Conference to Address Worker Exploitation

Edias was 12 years old when he traveled from Zimbabwe to South Africa to look for a job in agriculture. Now in his mid-twenties, he and other farm workers had been working 12 hour days, 7 days a week, and paid less than half the legal minimum wage when they asked the...
Swazi Union Receives 2015 AFL-CIO Human Rights Award

Swazi Union Receives 2015 AFL-CIO Human Rights Award

Over the past year, Swazi workers have not been deterred from taking part in union meetings even though the gatherings were repeatedly broken up by police. They turned out in large numbers for the annual May Day rally, although they were threatened with arrest if they...

Swazi Trade Union Federation Sounds Alarm over Job Losses

Swazi Trade Union Federation Sounds Alarm over Job Losses

Representatives of Swaziland’s trade union federation, TUCOSWA—who are in Washington, D.C., to receive a human rights award from the AFL-CIO in recognition of the courage and persistence of Swaziland’s workers in demanding their rights—say an alarming number of people...

Swazi Human Rights Leaders Released from Prison

Swazi Human Rights Leaders Released from Prison

Imprisoned Swazi human rights leader Mario Masuku and student activist Maxwell Dlamini were granted bail today by the Supreme Court of Swaziland, according to the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). The two were charged with terrorism and jailed in May 2014...

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