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WORKERS REFUSE TO RETURN TO TABLE - PM

01/08/2014 05:05:00 BY SIBONGILE SUKATI

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EZULWINI – Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini has encouraged workers to return to the negotiating table.

The PM informed editors during a breakfast meeting held at Sibane Hotel yesterday that workers were refusing to come to the table.
Dlamini said, however, if it was up to him and he was an editor he would not craft the headline as if he was blaming the workers, but said he would in large font on the front page state ‘PM encourages workers to come to the table’.

Dlamini had been asked by Swazi News Editor Phephisa Khoza why government had failed to fulfil the benchmarks which had been set by the United States Government and further explain what the current position was.

The PM said government would continue to work on the issues that related to the removal of Swaziland’s eligibility to AGOA.
He said on the issue of the requisite amendments to the Industrial Relations Act that related to the registration of workers’ federations and the liability of unions for criminal damage caused during strike actions it had to be said that the goal posts were moved while certain amendments were in Parliament.

“The amendments were withdrawn and new amendments cannot be agreed upon by the tripartite partners because one set of the partners (workers) is not prepared to join the others for the necessary discussions in order to reach an agreement,” said Dlamini.

The PM said it should be said that on the criminal damages issue one set of partner, the employers, agreed with government’s position that the hooligans who destroy innocent people’s property be held liable.

Dlamini said with regard to the Police Code of Conduct he could report that the police had developed a draft code which would now proceed through the various structures.
“Unfortunately, one of the processes is to agree the draft with the tripartite partners, one of who, the workers, are refusing to come to the table,” said Dlamini.
He said workers should just come to the table and not set conditions before hand and all the matters would be hashed out be it at a round table, carpet or under a tree.

“Regarding the anti- terrorism legislation, we are working on the draft of an amendment which we hope the Americans will accept,” said Dlamini.
He said before the 9/11 incident Swaziland did not have any terrorism laws and were guided into implementing it, stating that it was a pity that when people were caught with bombs which were never seen in the country government had to take the blame.

“In respect of the public order legislation, we have asked the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United States Government to assist us to draft the amendments to the Public Order Act of 1963, which was promulgated by the British Government because there was a need for such legislation,” he said.

He said, in fact, every country had public order legislation albeit known by a variety of names.
The premier said government’s plan was to continue engaging the Americans on the five issues stating that the US was a friendly country and government’s intention was to work closely with them on the issues with a view to regaining eligibility to AGOA.

Strategy

He said no policy statements on any substitution strategy had been brought to and agreed by Cabinet.
The PM said it was not a fair assessment and an appropriate conclusion to say that government had failed to fulfil the AGOA requirements. He told the editors that they should also criticise the other social partners in their sometimes scathing comments.

“You will also recall that the negative decision is with effect from January 1, 2015. In this regard we have a great window of opportunity in the next few months before the end of this year to engage with the US Government so that we may come into a common understanding and appreciation of how these benchmarks could be sufficiently addressed for the mutual benefits of our people,” Dlamini said.

The PM said, as he spoke, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Gideon Dlamini was in the US engaging on the very same issue which government had elevated to be part of its priority national matters that should receive immediate attention.
The PM said it would be rather premature for government to start thinking and talking language of a Plan B at the current stage of the different engagements and consultations on the AGOA issue.

He said it was government’s hope that Swaziland would be counted among the sub-Saharan countries that would continue to benefit from the scheme which will be effected on October 2015 following the US-Africa’s leaders summit which would be held next month.