Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MBABANE351
2009-12-21 14:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Mbabane
Cable title:  

LABOR LEADER JAN SITHOLE: SWAZILAND NOT UPHOLDING LABOR

Tags:  ELAB PREL ECON PHUM WZ 
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VZCZCXRO1976
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHMB #0351 3551445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211445Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3825
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MBABANE 000351 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL ECON PHUM WZ
SUBJECT: LABOR LEADER JAN SITHOLE: SWAZILAND NOT UPHOLDING LABOR
RIGHTS, WORKERS NEED CIVIC EDUCATION

UNCLAS MBABANE 000351

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S (MHARRIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL ECON PHUM WZ
SUBJECT: LABOR LEADER JAN SITHOLE: SWAZILAND NOT UPHOLDING LABOR
RIGHTS, WORKERS NEED CIVIC EDUCATION


1. SUMMARY: Labor union and civil society leader Jan Sithole, who
recently stepped down after 25 years as secretary general of the
Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU),told PolOff that
Swaziland is not doing well implementing treaties and laws upholding
labor rights. Recalling influential AFL-CIO education efforts in
Swaziland in the 90s, he stated that today's Swazi workers need
additional civic education, particularly those within the informal
economy. Government and chiefdom use of patronage, including
threats to take land or restrict scholarships of troublemakers and
their families, and statements that reforms would be anti-Swazi
culture, hinder current civic education efforts. END SUMMARY.


2. On December 18, labor union and civil society leader Jan
Sithole, who recently stepped down after 25 years as secretary
general of SFTU, Swaziland's syndication of trade unions, told
PolOff that Swaziland is not doing well implementing treaties and
laws that uphold labor rights. He cited government restrictions
that prevent police and security forces from unionizing, even though
the International Labor Organization (ILO) had raised the issue of
unionization with the GKOS as long as 15 years ago. When the
Constitution was finalized in 2005, it prohibited security forces
from unionizing, though Sithole said it could have simply outlawed
security forces from striking in order to ensure public services and
order.


3. The civil society leader raised concerns over the Public
Services bill currently before Parliament, which, if passed, would
prohibit civil servants from membership in political organizations,
despite the fact that the Constitution provides for freedom of
expression and association. Observers fear GKOS would use this law
to fire government employees with ties to political parties and
affiliations. The Prime Minister was quoted in the media some months
ago that, indeed, this is the intent. GKOS's international
obligations also require legislation affecting labor to first go
before the tripartite Labor Advisory Board, made up of
representatives from employers, workers, and government, something
this proposed legislation had not done.

Labor More Powerful in 90s, Swazis Need Civic Education
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4. Sithole agreed with the observation that labor had more
political clout in the 1990s, when strikes and work-stoppages helped
shut down the economy and forced the government to begin the
political reforms that led to a new constitution. He indicated that
labor is weaker now because the media is more restricted and
censored today, and as a result of the economic downturn there are
fewer jobs, fewer union members, and fewer unionized work places.

Sithole also cited education efforts by the AFL-CIO in the 1990s as
instrumental in teaching members about their rights. He emphasized
that today's Swazi workers and populace, particularly within the
informal economy, need civic education like that which the AFL-CIO
provided, and he and others in civil society are pushing a campaign
to do just that. He expressed concern that government has been
successful in limiting civic education campaigns, using a patronage
system to reward persons who speak against reform. One common tool
of chiefs in charge of land and scholarships is to evaluate how well
a family is toeing the traditional/royal line when doling out
favors. He indicated that GKOS has effectively used the "culture"
argument in discrediting progressive reforms as unpatriotic to Swazi
culture.


5. Regarding the economic crisis and looming budget crisis
following the decline in Swaziland's SACU receipts, Sithole stated
that GKOS has not reached out to labor or civil society for
solutions or even collaboration.

MORRISON