MBABANE:Wander Mkhonza,the Secretary General of the Amalgamated Trade Union Congress of Swaziland(ATUSWA)says they are hoping for improvement in working conditions within the textile industry following the recent visits by Labour and Social Security Minister Phila Buthelezi.
The textile industry in eSwatini employs over thirty-five thousand(35000) workers,unfortunately these workers are ‘underpaid’,some receive as little as five hundred Rands(R500) per-fortnight, Government Gazettes allow companies to underpay workers.
”We met the Minister to raise our grievances and with these visits to the textile companies,we hope he is addressing those issues not campaigning for the upcoming elections,”said the ATUSWA Secretary General when speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday.
Government online platforms reported last week that the Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi visited Stealth Security,Far East Textile and Texray Group of Companies in the Manzini Region as part of his ongoing tour of businesses.
“The Minister has engaged both management and staff on issues such as workers welfare, improving work-place relations, workers compensation, health and safety standards and fair labour practices,among others,” reads the Government online report.
Eswatini has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line,among the over 700 000 struggling citizens are workers who are underpaid by politically connected capitalists.
Minister Phila Buthelezi inside Far East Textile on his second day of visiting businesses(pic:Gov).