THE NEED TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Sir,

It is a great achievement that Swaziland was given a senior position in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body a few months ago in Geneva, we commend that.

It is significant in the sense that it now means the country will play a crucial role in the decision making of matters related to the rights of workers worldwide.

To be appointed into such a body means that the country needs to first improve its own house and make sure that it is in order. This is because we cannot be expected to contribute to decisions on the rights of workers if we are not doing things right here at home. No, it cannot work that way. We must not just sit and relax. The ILO gave us such a position so that we can display our leadership qualities and we cannot do so if we do not correct the mistakes here at home.

Now, how good is our record when it comes to issues of workers? Are we doing things right? Does the country respect the rights of workers? These are some of the questions that we should ask ourselves if we are destined to leave a remarkable legacy as a member of the ILO Governing Body.

If there are still people in the high corridors of power who abuse the rights of workers then we are in trouble. I believe that there is a lot that needs to be corrected. For example, the police brutalities against demonstrators who decide to take to the streets to raise their concerns about working conditions should come to an end.

If people are still treated harshly whenever they demonstrate on the streets as a way of making known their demands it means that we are far from being listed as one of the countries where the rights of workers are respected and this is not good at all. Why should demonstrators who are unarmed be brutally assaulted by the police? Right now we have issues where government is having problems with the demands by the public sector associations who are demanding an increment in what is known as the cost of living adjustments.

Yes, the concern that government currently has financial problems is understandable but at least give the workers a little instead of the zero per cent. Government must give in to the demands of the civil servants so long as they make sense. Whatever problems government faces, it must find a way of addressing the concerns of workers. In that way then the country will be in the good books of the ILO.

Sibeko,
Luyengo.

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