SWAZI WORKERS OPEN TO ABUSE

Workers in Swaziland are among the poorest in southern Africa. And this makes them wide open to exploitation by bosses seeking to drive down wages.

The plight of the Swazi worker has come to light with the news that textile factories in neighbouring South Africa might close down and move some of their business to Swaziland – because factory owners can get away with paying Swazis lower wages than South Africans.

Bosses are threatening workers in South Africa that they will close their factories and move to Swaziland if that country’s Bargaining Council goes ahead with its threat to force factories to pay the country’s minimum wage to textile workers.

More than 380 registered clothing factories, employing about 15,000 workers, do not pay minimum wages and are facing shut-down. All factories will have to pay 70 percent of minimum wages by the end of March 2011, and the full amount by April 2012. Should these targets not be met, the factories will be closed down.

Textile factories in Swaziland – many of them owned by Taiwanese companies – are notorious for the poor pay and conditions they inflict on their workers. By paying what amounts to near-slave wages, the companies are able to boost profits and maintain their share of the international cheap textile market.

It is believed that many workers in textile factories at present in Swaziland do not receive even the kingdom’s minimum wage that varies between E420 (US$57) a month for an unskilled worker and E600 (US $81) a month for a skilled worker.

The US State Department, in its 2009 Country Report [on Swaziland] on Human Rights said, ‘These minimum wages did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Migrant workers were not covered under minimum wage laws. Wage arrears, particularly in the garment industry, were a problem. The minimum wage laws did not apply to the informal sector, where most workers were employed.’

I have reported previously that Swaziland’s textile workers are so poorly paid that some exist close to ‘starvation’.

Women workers get paid much less than the minimum wage. I reported in January 2010 about the women workers in Matsanjeni who typically earned E160 a month and were forced to turn to prostitution to survive.

Some women textile workers reported they earned E5.50 per hour (about 85 US cents) and had to live six to a room and three to a bed to get by. They tried to share food as the cheapest meal for one person costs E10 and a piece of fruit costs E1.

In September 2008, police fired teargas and rubber bullets at textile workers at Zheng Yong Garment Factory who were peacefully demanding that they be paid holiday money that was rightfully owed to them.

In South Africa, the Industry National Bargaining Council minimum wage for a Millinery General Worker engaged in manufacturing millinery is set at E2,405.57 per month (nearly six times the minimum rate for an unskilled worker in Swaziland).

In Swaziland, Phiwayinkhosi Ginindza, the Swaziland Investments Promotion Authority (SIPA) Chief Executive, said the closure of factories in South Africa would come as an advantage to the kingdom in terms of job creation.

He told the Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned and edited by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, Swaziland couldn’t take all 380 of the South African factories, because they would need infrastructure such as factory shells.

‘380 is a very large number and the country cannot accommodate such a number. We can accommodate those that we can,’ he said.

PICKET FOR SWAZI DEMOCRACY

For those of us who missed this, here’s a video showing about 100 South African trade unionists who picketed the Swaziland consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 15 November 2010 in support of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign and in support of a march held the previous day within the kingdom.

Speakers here are Skumbuso Pahkati, deputy president of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and Bongani Musaku, international officer, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). More more information on the march, click here

MASS PICKET FOR SWAZI DEMOCRACY

This is a statement from the Swaziland Democracy Campaign – South Africa – reporting on a picket to support pro-democracy activists in Swaziland that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

SOURCE

SDC Picket at Swazi Consulate in Johannesburg: What a resounding success

18 November 2010

Oh what an inspiration! A mere lunch hour picket turned into a big march as an unexpected number of workers pour in from different workplaces to express their disgust and outrage at the Swazi regime’s continued persecution of the struggling masses of Swaziland.



The whole Braampak area was littered with red t-shirts of workers from different COSATU affiliates, most notably SAMWU, as well as broader civil society organisations to express their unwavering support to the cause of Swazi workers. About 500 workers participated in the picket, admittedly the biggest lunch hour picket we have so far organised, except for marches and blockades whose numbers are way above that.



The fact that in the streets of Mbabane where rain was pouring, workers and the mass of the people braved a hostile weather to participate in the great march co-ordinated by the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) in close liaison with the courageous trade union

movement; SFTU, SFL and SNAT.



The very next day, today, the streets of Johannesburg experienced the same SDC fever, which rocked the city in a way never seen before. The rains started to pour and in the words of the MC of the proceedings, SDC Co-ordinator, Steve Faulkner, “thanks to the rain, the ancestors are out in their numbers to bless us with the rain”.



Various speakers presented their messages of solidarity. Amongst them was a representative of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) who was part of their delegation currently in the country and have proven to be our most reliable friend in Canada on the Swazi and other critical questions of solidarity. We also had speakers from PUDEMO, COSATU, NGOs and social movements. Closing remarks were made by SDC Co-ordinator, Ntokozo Mbhele.



We take this opportunity as the SDC South Africa to express our sincere thanks to all those who sacrificed their lunch and made it their priority to offer their practical solidarity with the suffering people of Swaziland, including our guests and allies from outside the borders of South Africa who made very profound speeches.



The Memo was received by Sigayoyo Magongo, the Chief in charge of Trade and Commercial affairs in the High Commission in Pretoria who was together with Mr Tsabedze who heads the consulate.



Finally, the SDC South Africa Chapter expressed kind words of solidarity and salutations to fellow counterparts, the SDC Swaziland Chapter for their acts of bravery and heroism in proceeding to organise the action when the state and fellow commentators or even sojourners had written it off as a non-starter or impossible. It continued to say, “We extend special salutations to the trade union movement of Swaziland and their consistency in fighting for democracy together with all organised and progressive formations in the country, your work is an inspiration always and we are with you all the way”.



Messages of solidarity were received from all over the world and include; Denmark, Canada, Togo, Botswana, UK, Greece and from various organisations in South Africa.



The Co-ordinating team of the SDC is meeting next week to assess all these developments and a way forward shall be duly pronounced. We believe as a campaign movement our work is to organise action all the time.

SOLIDARITY FOR A FREE SWAZILAND

Support for democracy in Swaziland is growing in neighbouring South Africa.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), one of the main groups organising for freedom in the kingdom, reports that it is building new groups as part of a ‘political strategy to ensure the presence in every community and each household, of activists that understands the plight of Swazis under the current oppressive King Mswati III’.

SSN reports that branches have recently been launched in Midrand, Johannesburg and at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

SSN says another ten branches will be launched including Central Johannesburg, Orange Farm, Braamfontein, Yeoville, Newclare and Rossetenville.

In Soweto groups will be launched in Diepkloof, Naledi, Mndeni and Mapetla. The North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are amongst provinces that will launch structures of SSN within the next two weeks.

SSN says these new solidarity groups have been able to attract community activists, academics, researchers and politicians in their ranks and also initiate ‘raging debates about lack of democracy and the violation of human rights’.

The SSN National Congress to be held in September 2009 will deliberate on a strategy to provide Swazi’s with solidarity support. Congress is also expected to devise a strategy to counter international investments during the 2010 world cup that ‘will benefit the King and his cronies’.

AFRICA BACKS SWAZILAND DEMOCRATS

African organisations are lining up to support the pro-democracy freedom movements in Swaziland and in particular protest the arrests of dissidents, including Mario Masuku, President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.

What follows is a joint statement on the situation endorsed by 15 organisations based in South Africa

CALL FOR DIRECT, OPEN, CREDIBLE TALKS BETWEEN THE MONARCH AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN SWAZILAND



We the undersigned South African civil society organisations, affirm that Swaziland is at a major strategic turning point in the course of its political history.

In our vehement protest at the detention of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) President Mario Masuku, his lawyer Thulani Maseko and all political prisoners, we recognise the unique political moment and appeal for reflection leading to an urgent and different approach. We recognise that the actual crisis is much more structurally endemic than its appearance. The Swazi royal Thinkundla state is a people disoriented system and clearly confronting major limitations.

Of all major historical moments, it is our view that 2008 marked the beginning of a decisive transformational cycle.

From social policy to the political arena, the regime is confronted with a deep crisis. All of its political capital will be lost. The coercive attempts to subdue the people’s resistance by terminating their rights of access to education, healthcare, housing and social protection, the denial of employment opportunities is major disaster. The arrest of PUDEMO President Mario Masuku and other leaders, the appointment of the Prime Minister Dlamini, assassinations of political leaders, the passing of the Suppression of Terrorism Act, the looting of the national fiscus by the Royal family and the arrest of Thulani Maseko are all elements of this major transformation.

In all poles of Swazi society, Thinkundla is in a spiral of social, political and economic backlashes, with very negative consequences for the people.

The situation calls for decisive action, to overcome a state of no guarantees, to mitigate the people’s most profound needs for basics, for food and medicines, for jobs and coherent livelihoods. In the absence of any political detours, there is a single course out of the crisis.

That path is for the start of genuine dialogue and negotiations inside of Swaziland.

The main objective of this joint representation is therefore, to call for direct, open, credible talks between the Monarch on the one hand and the representatives of the people on the other.

We appeal to the South African government, progressive forces and all our people to for their support and for the region and international community to back this decisive call and for all to prepare for this paradigm shift. Relevant institutions of SADC and the AU, must step in, exercise leadership, and provide political and technical assistance. A credible national dialogue agenda is desired and the opening up of all channels of communication.

This is the only framework to safeguard peace, social and economic progress and remains the only viable option outside of anarchy and confrontation.



Endorsed by

African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)

Congress of South African Students (COSAS)

Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU

Free Burma Campaign (FBC-SA)

Friends of Congolese Associations in South Africa (FOCAS)

Jubilee SA

Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA)

Refugee SA

South African Commercial and Catering Workers Union (SACCAWU)

South African Communist Party (SACP)

South African Council of Churches (SACC)

Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN)

Young Communist League (YCL)

Zimbabwe Revolutionary Youth Movement

Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF)

12 June 2009