Southern African garment unions to collaborate on supply chains12 June, 2017During a meeting on supply chains in Cape Town, IndustriALL affiliates in the textile, garment, shoes and leather sectors from Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, agreed to campaign for better wages and working conditions, build union power, and confront aggressive employers.
Swaziland: Bring back AGOA status, say unions6 September, 2017An IndustriALL affiliate, Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA), and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) met in Manzini, Swaziland on 29 August and agreed to support Swaziland’s readmission to the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
IndustriALL and ITUC call for urgent inclusive dialogue on democratic reforms in Eswatini2 February, 2022Several student leaders have been arrested while others allegedly tortured at police stations in Eswatini. Unions say over 100 people were shot dead, and hundreds injured and arbitrarily arrested in incidences where the police and the army used excessive force and live ammunition against prodemocracy campaigners.
Calls for justice for slain Eswatini human rights defender 3 February, 2023On 3 February, South African unions from the Congress of South African Trade Unions and civil society organizations campaigning for democratic reforms picketed at the Eswatini Embassy in Johannesburg to call for justice and for an independent investigation following the assassination of Thulani Maseko, a human rights and social justice lawyer.
Worker rights violations under spotlight at the ILO16 June, 2016The ILO Committee on Application of Standards at the 2016 International Labour Conference in Geneva heard testimonies from workers around the world facing increased repression and difficulties in exercising their rights enshrined in ILO Conventions.
Swaziland union federation dealt another blow7 March, 2013The Industrial Court in Swaziland ruled against the legitimacy of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (Tucoswa), giving advantage to the repressive Swazi regime to undermine calls from labour for democracy ahead of national elections.
Suppression of democracy campaign activities in Swaziland9 September, 2013Police prevented a Global Inquiry Panel headed up by former South African Minister and labour leader, Jay Naidoo from taking place after having detained Naidoo for questioning the day before.
Unions struggle for democracy in Swaziland11 September, 2012Despite violent repression by the Swaziland government, unions together with student bodies and civil society pushed on with calls for multiparty democratic elections during the Global Week of Action on Swaziland, 3 to 7 September.
Patience running out on promised reforms in Swaziland 16 June, 2014As Swaziland’s labour rights came under scrutiny at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, outraged worker representatives held up printed demands for the release of a jailed labour lawyer and the registration of Swazi Labour Federations.
US withdraws Swaziland’s preferential trade status3 July, 2014The failure of the Swaziland government to uphold the rule of law and respect worker and human rights has resulted in the loss of preferential trade status with the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
