There is no guarantee of workers’ rights in Swaziland/
eSwatini and it is getting worse, a
report from the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC) concluded.
ITUC placed Swaziland, which is ruled
by absolute monarch King Mswati III, near the bottom of countries across the
world. It said in the past year ‘police
brutality reached unprecedented levels’ and ‘security forces fired live
ammunition at protesting workers’.
In a review of workers’ rights during
2018, ITUC reported, ‘In eSwatini, a peaceful demonstration, organised by the
Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) to deliver a petition to the deputy
prime minister’s office, was brutally repressed by armed forces on 29 June
2018.
‘The police prevented workers from
reaching the deputy prime minister’s office by using water cannon and tear gas
canisters, and attacked demonstrators with batons. Four members of TUCOSWA were
gravely injured and taken to the hospital, while Majembeni Thobela, a security
guard who was marching this day, received severe beatings and was left
unconscious covered with blood on his face from head injuries.
‘The police did not even bother to rush
him to the hospital, and first aid was later applied to him by other marchers.
Many demonstrators ran for safety, with pursuing police beating everyone in
sight with batons. Some were cornered and severely assaulted by the police. A
week after the events, two people were still in a critical state in hospital.’
The ITUC Global Rights Index ranked 145
countries on the degree of respect for workers’ rights in law and in practice.
It reported the situation n Swaziland /eSwatini had worsened since last year.
The case highlighted by the ITUC was not an isolated incident. In August 2018, for example, police attacked three separate demonstrations by workers protesting for better pay and conditions.
The case highlighted by the ITUC was not an isolated incident. In August 2018, for example, police attacked three separate demonstrations by workers protesting for better pay and conditions.
Police fired several gunshot blasts while textile
workers, mostly women, protested at Nhlangano about poor pay. More than 200
paramilitary police and correctional facility warders with riot shields,
helmets and batons guarded the entrance to Juris, one of the major factories,
according to a
local media report. It happened on 30 August 2018 when five
firms closed after management locked gates after workers gathered.
On the previous Friday police shot
and wounded a schoolteacher during a march in Manzini. On the
Wednesday that week in Mbabane
nurses were tasered. Both groups were protesting at the Swazi
government’s decision to offer a zero increase in their salary cost of living
adjustment.
In September 2018, police blocked nurses who were
legally trying to deliver a petition to government as part of their ongoing campaign against service cuts.
One local newspaper reported a policeman’s baton was broken in two during the
confrontation.
Also in September, police
officers were captured on video
viciously attacking defenceless workers on the street in Manzini during a legal
protest over pay. Dozens of officers in
riot gear and waving batons were seen chasing workers. At least one officer
appeared to be wielding a whip. Workers were seen running fearing for their
safety. The police indiscriminately hit the fleeing workers around their
bodies. It was on the first day of a three day national strike organised by
TUCOSWA. Protests took place simultaneously in the towns and cities of Mbabane,
Manzini, Siteki and Nhlangano.
The strike had earlier been
declared legal under Swaziland’s Industrial Relations Act.
On 13 April, police
fired rubber bullets as about 2,000 workers and supporters took to the streets
of Mbabane to protest against worsening living conditions. The AFP news agency reported one protestor was hit in the thigh by a rubber
bullet.
See also
Swaziland
police fire gunshots during textiles dispute, third attack on workers in a week
Swaziland
teacher who stopped police chief shooting into unarmed crowd appears in court
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/08/swaziland-teacher-who-stopped-police.html
Police in Swaziland attack nurses with taser during peaceful protest over pay
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/08/police-in-swaziland-attack-nurses-with.html
Police in Swaziland attack nurses with taser during peaceful protest over pay
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