NIGHTMARE OF REGAINING AGOA

MBABANE – It may be a tall order for the country to regain African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits – at least anytime soon.

This is because the federation that successfully advised President Barack Obama to remove Swaziland from this tax-free trade privilege is now critical of each and every word the Swazi Government includes in the amended laws.

The loss of AGOA trade benefits resulted in various textile companies closing down and reterenching staff.
Tex Ray in Matsapha had to let go of about 1 400 of its workers two years ago, when this economic nightmare hit Swaziland.
The laws being amended to comply with international standards are the Suppression of the Terrorism Act, 2008, Public Services Bill and Correctional Services Bill.

However, amendment of the Suppression of the Terrorism Act (STA) is being thoroughly scrutinised by the Americans because of perception that government uses it to suppress freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively.
In its analysis of the amendment of the STA, the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) is worried the Swazi Government included the words ‘by violent means’ in its definition of terrorism.

The Bills are now before Senate, after passing through the House of Assembly.
The AFL-CIO is a national trade union centre and the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 12 million active and retired workers.

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