INCLUSION OF ARMY IN WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION BILL APPLAUDED

MBABANE – MPs have heaped praises to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Portfolio Committee for the inclusion of soldiers in the Workmen’s Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Umbutfo Esatini Defence Force members (UEDF) had been  removed from the list of persons excluded from the definition of ‘workman’ as per the Act, as part of the amendments of the Bill and they were invited to make submissions on this development, which they did and showed interest to be part of the beneficiaries under the Bill. The Chairperson of the Committee and Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini successfully moved for the adoption of the report of the ministry’s portfolio committee on the Bill and he was seconded by Sithobelweni MP Bhekitje Dlamini. MP Lutfo shared that there were four amendments to the Bill, which included defining the minister, changing Labour commissioner to be replaced by the compensation commissioner on issues of social security and leaving the ground open for other insurance industry players to penetrate the space as it was previously monopolised and only operated by the Eswatini Royal Insurance Corporation (ESRIC).

However, the main one, which was applauded by the MPs, was that of the inclusion of the members of the UEDF who were previously not eligible to make a claim when they got injured in the line of duty. MP Lutfo, when moving for the adoption of the Bill, shared that this was one of the achievements that carried a lot of weight for the 11th Parliament and the parliamentarians should give themselves a tap on the back for it.

Preferred

He also highlighted the issue of ending the monopoly on the insurance company that had been preferred by government for years, saying it would give other industry players a fair chance to participate in the workmen’s compensation space. The seconder, in Sithobelweni MP Bhekitje, appreciated that ESRIC did not object the amendment to end the monopoly but was keen to step aside and let others get in the same market. “In the issue of soldiers benefitting from the workmen’s compensation, it’s been a long time coming and it’s greatly commendable that it is now a reality,” he shared. Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi also shared the same sentiments, stating that nothing makes the Bill more appealing than the fact that soldiers would now be beneficiaries on the Act.

On the issue of ESRIC being given 12 months to wind up and give others a chance, he proposed that there should be a specific date that speaks to specifically that and his contention was that the government year commenced on April 1 of each year and given that the Bill, at the time of the commencement of the government year, was still subject to Parliament processes, it would be proper to declare that ESRIC would seize operations on April 1, 2024. The suggestion was welcomed by other parliamentarians, including the Attorney General, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, who shared that there was nothing wrong with putting a specific date on a clause as it had been done before. The minister also added that the adoption of the Bill would help the ministry in pushing the backlog of compensations, some of which were waiting for the completion of the amendment of the Bill. Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane, said the Bill committee members would be rewarded by automatic entry in the Kingdom of Heaven for their glaringly wonderful work on the Bill, which is highlighted by the inclusion of the soldiers on it. Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko said this was burden offload because the soldiers knew where they were employed and they were always enquiring on the matter at the ministry.

Unfair

He shared that it was unfair that both members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service and His Majesty’s Correctional Services members were eligible for the compensation but soldiers were not. “We have seen in the recent past how soldiers were killed and it was about time they are included in the Act,” he said. The Bill was adopted after the House committed to a committee of the whole House to include the amendments on it and it would now be subject for approval at Cabinet before being blessed by the head of State. The object of the Bill is to amend the Workmen’s Compensation Act No.7 of 1983 so as to provide for the change of the designation of Labour Commissioner; so as to be in line with the National Social Security policy 2021. The other one is the change of the Eswatini Royal Insurance Company so as to include any registered insurer in a Eswatini to avoid monopoly in the industry as well as incidental matters.

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