The Trade Union Congress
of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), the workers’ federation banned in the kingdom because it
supported calls for democratic change, has been awarded a prestigious international human rights award.
The George Meany-Lane
Kirkland Human Rights Award in 2015 recognized, ‘the courage and persistence of
Swaziland’s workers in demanding their rights in one of the world’s most
autocratic countries’.
Swaziland is ruled by
King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. Political parties
are banned from taking part in elections and the King chooses the government.
Earlier in 2015, Swaziland
was named among the top ten worst countries
in the world for workers’ rights, in a report published
by the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC).
The AFL-CIO workers’
union in the United States reported
that in recent years, ‘Swaziland’s monarchical government has become
increasingly repressive’.
It added, ‘As legal and
physical attacks on Swaziland workers and their allies became more frequent,
TUCOSWA remained resolute in its support for worker rights, standing up for its
right to exist, and to support human rights activists illegally harassed and
imprisoned.
‘TUCOSWA has stood for
democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Through persistent
efforts and support from unions worldwide, TUCOSWA won its recognition battle
in May 2015, but continues to face hurdles in the way of making legal standing
a reality.’
TUCOSWA was formed in
2012 when the Swaziland Federation of Labour, the Swaziland Federation of Trade
Unions, and the Swaziland National Association for Teachers merged. It was refused
registration and legal standing for three years.
Swaziland lost its preferential
trading rights with the United States under the Africa Growth Opportunities Act
(AGOA)
because of its consistent refusal to make promised policy reforms that would
recognize freedom of assembly, speech, and organization and curtail the broad
discretionary authority that police use to disrupt union activities and arrest
civil society activists including union leaders, journalists, student leaders,
and political dissidents.
See also
KINGDOM
IN WORLD’S TOP WORST FOR WORKERS
SWAZI
HUMAN RIGHTS WORSEN: AMNESTY
LEGAL
CHALLENGE TO SWAZI TERROR LAW
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