Times Of Swaziland: IS 2018 THE YEAR FOR TEXTILE WORKERS?

IS 2018 THE YEAR FOR TEXTILE WORKERS?
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BY SIBUSISO ZWANE on 25/01/2018 02:20:00


MANZINI – Can the year 2018 be a turning point for textile workers’
prolonged poverty?
The workers in the textile industry said as they got into the new year and edged
closer to this year’s negotiations which are scheduled to start next
Wednesday, they would be demanding that government should adhere to TUCOSWA’s
call for a basic minimum wage, which would see them as part of the least paid
workforce, getting at least E3 000 per month.
This means that workers are demanding up to 100 per cent increase this year as
most of them earn between E1 300 and E1 500 per month.
They said even though they were supporting the call by the Trade Union Congress
of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) from the onset, they were recently encouraged by the USA
Ambassador to Swaziland, Lisa Peterson’s recent comments after the country was
readmitted to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
They said when the ambassador addressed TUCOSWA’s Women’s Wing Inaugural
Conference delegates, she said with the return of AGOA, the country should
strive to ensure fair labour conditions and safe workplaces. The shop stewards,
who spoke on behalf of the workers, said had analysed the ambassador’s call
and had since given their representatives, the Amalgamated Trade Union of
Swaziland (ATUSWA) a mandate of a minimum wage of E3 000 across the sector.
“We are aware that at the round table, our concerns are usually not taken into
consideration but we believe that if we can remain focused and determined we can
get what we want.