MTHUNZI SHABANGU NEW LABOUR COMMISSIONER

mfanukhona@times.co.sz

MBABANE –  Ladies and gentlemen, the new Labour Commissioner is Mthunzi Shabangu.
With effect from May 4, 2020, Shabangu, the former Senior Commissioner-Legal Services at the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC), will now serve as head of the Labour Department.
The Labour Department is under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Before ascending to seniority, he had been serving on an acting basis as the labour commissioner.

 He held this position since the promotion of his predecessor, Sipho Tsabedze, to the position of principal secretary in the Ministry of Public Service.
His substantive position was that of legal advisor for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. He has been with the ministry for four years.

Shabangu is a lawyer by profession, having graduated at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Laws (LLB) in the process.
He was admitted to the High Court in 2004. Aged 45, he will also serve as the chairman of the Labour Advisory Board (LAB), a tripartite body composed of government, employers and workers.
It is established in terms of Part III of the Industrial Relations Act No.1 of 2000.

The LAB, which Shabangu will chair, advises the minister on all labour-related issues.
The labour commissioner is married, and has one child, a four-year old daughter. He confirmed his appointment to the position of labour commissioner, but referred enquiries to Thulani Mkhaliphi, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Mkhaliphi could only confirm Shabangu’s appointment to the post.
“Yes, he is the commissioner of labour,” said the principal secretary.

Government has been taking the post of labour commissioner as a senior one, resulting in office bearers being promoted to the position of PS (principal secretary).  Jinnoh Nkambule, who served as labour commissioner, was a principal secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security at the time he retired from the public service. Following in his footsteps was Sipho Tsabedze, the current PS in the Ministry of Public Service.
Other emaSwati who served as commissioners of labour are Joshua Mndzebele, Ericson Dlamini and the late Khabo Dlamini.

HEADS OF DEPARTMENT

It must be said that Shabangu heads the Department of Labour, which comprises of the following sections and units: Industrial Relations Unit, General Labour Inspection Unit, Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate, Statutory Bodies and International Affairs Unit and the Workmen’s Compensation Unit.
The overall responsibility of the Department of Labour is the development and administration of labour market policy and labour law in conformity with international labour standards and the national Constitution.

Its objectives, which Shabangu will ensure are met with consistency and professionalism include - promoting a harmonious industrial relations atmosphere in the country, ensuring that all laws relating to conditions of employment and the protection of employees in the workplace are observed and also ensuring that all the labour laws of the country are in harmony with International Labour Standards and Conventions

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