By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE: Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has announced E25 million unemployment fund and the opening of more businesses and schools.

Addressing the Nation during a press conference held at the cabinet offices on Friday afternoon the Prime Minister noted the need to cushion those who lost their jobs due to the partial lockdown.

\"Government has sourced E25 million to create a relief fund in order to mitigate the effects of COVID 19 on laid off and unpaid workers. In addition to the E25 million, the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) has also made an amount of E5 million available as seed capital for the establishment of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). The Ministry of Labour will in due course announce the distribution guidelines of the relief fund\", he said.

Dlamini also announced the opening of more businesses under strict conditions from 15 June 2020. These include cosmetic shops, photo studios, driving schools, clothing shops, alcohol warehouses and jewelleries. He said the opening of businesses does not mean the total loosening of the partial lockdown regulations. Businesses that fail to adhere to the regulations must be reported via a toll free number which is 8001002/ 112.

He also announced the opening of schools following a phased approach on the 1^stof July 2020 starting with Form 5 and completing classes at tertiary level.

\"For the objectives of the 2020 academic year to be achieved, we need to allow the current Form 5 learners to progress to tertiary level. To do so they need to sit for their exams and complete their end of school cycle,\" said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister further mentioned that before the opening of schools and tertiary institutions, personnel will be trained on COVID 19 prevention and control. He added that government has developed a checklist for assessing school cleanliness. This checklist will be administered by Regional Education Officers (REO).