BY EPN
MBABANE – A historical milestone was made today on the Malagwane hill at the Business Eswatini offices. The apex organisations of labour and business Eswatini released the first ever joint press statement from the first bipartite dialogue between the two parties. Labour was represented by TUCOSWA, and employers were represented by Business Eswatini.
Speaking before releasing the statement, Business Eswatini CEO E Nathi Dlamini praised his partners in making the dialogue happen and conclude well, in spite of all the challenges. “I faced questions and challenges from my side when organising this dialogue, as some of our stakeholders were a bit uncertain on if this will be effective. The same happened to TUCOSWA president Bheki Mamba, who has stories I couldn’t even tell you.”
These sentiments were echoed by TUCOSWA president Bheki Mamba, who said “There are going to be challenges. They are there for us to exercise a bit of reasoning as we solve this challenges. Our organisations must not be led on the principle of common sense, but must use scientific reasoning. This will allow us to pick up gains along the way.The only option available for us to forge ahead. We have to put our heads together to try and overcome the challenges that stand in our way.”
Mamba also highlighted that “What is needed in a democratic society is that the people who live in it must exhibit tolerance. This means understanding that other people have their own way of doing things and they are thinking differently from you. Even with us as labour, we were confronted with differences in mindsets here and there. However, if we weren’t tolerant, then we wouldn’t be here today delivering a statement from a successful engagement between labour and employers.”
The bipartite dialogue was supported by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Business Eswatini CEO E Nathi Dlamini also expressed that the ILO is very pleased with the excersize, and that they are very keen to see the results. He added that the ILO is interested in using this model of dialogue between the two parties as a template that can be implemented in other countries as well.
The final report from the dialogue is yet be fully compiled and released to the public. The full statement can be read below:
