BY MBONGENI NDLELA MBABANE – Despite causing a global economic havoc, COVID-19 lockdown has brought Emaswati together, acting Minister of Labour and Social Security Pholile Shakantu has said. The minister yesterday met with social partners that represented Eswatini in the 109th session of the International Labour Conference. Shakantu conveyed her appreciation for the cooperation between the tripartite, which includes government, workers and employers. The International Labour Conference began on 7 June 2021 and end yesterday, 19 June 2021. It brought together tripartite representatives from 187 ILO Member States where they discussed issues around the world of work, including a human centered recovery from theCOVID-19 pandemic. “One thing the COVID-19 lockdown has done is bring us closer. I urge the spirit of teamwork among us in order to find resolutions in improving the world of work in terms of providing social security to achieve employment protection,” the minister said. She further emphasised the importance of finding ways to secure the support of agencies for businesses not to close as well as the creation of jobs and an enabling environment for the economy to thrive.
