By Nokwanda Mamba

MATSAPHA: Wander Mkhonza, the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) has confirmed that the constructively dismissed employees at Far East Textiles who were denied their gratuity received their payment Monday. 

This comes after Executive members of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) Youth League, the Swaziland Youth Congress(SWAYOCO) held a meeting with the Directors of the company to discuss possible ways of resolving the matter peacefully.

The PUDEMO Youth League had threatened to to organize a protest within the company premises and disrupt operations.

Speaking to this publication on Tuesday, the ATUSWA Secretary thanked  SWAYOCO for intervening in the matter and the commitment to address the plight of workers. 

"We are grateful to SWAYOCO for standing up for these workers. Maybe ATUSWA must draw a list of all bad employers and give to SWAYOCO and other political players because the employers refuse to listen to us but in a whim they correct themselves when confronted by political organizations or even maybe unions must work as political parties and forget about legal procedures because it is clear that the law and the courts are there to serve employers than workers", said the ATUSWA Secretary General. 

Reached for comments, Sakhile Awuviva Nxumalo, the PUDEMO Youth League President said the intervention was just a collective bargain. 

"The intervention was a collective bargain of SWAYOCO, ours is about the people particularly the poor marginalised workers who are selling their labour power, day in and out. Workers must unite and fight back for what is due to them", said the SWAYOCO President.

Efforts to reach Tokky Hou, the Managing Director at Far East Textiles proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

Eswatini Government approved Gazettes that allow other employers to pay their employees a mere one thousand one hundred Rands per month (R1100.00), some employers refuse to pay gratuity to resigned employees.