Swazi Observer

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PM THANKS ILO FOR UIF

By Sifiso Dlamini | 2020-07-09

PRIME Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has thanked the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for assisting the country in establishing the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

This was outlined during the virtual ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work held yesterday.

The premier said since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 500 000 lives worldwide, the Kingdom of Eswatini congratulated ILO for remaining steadfast and providing leadership as well as material support to its constituent partners in these unprecedented times of COVID-19. "Convening the virtual ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work gives us as constituent members of this organisation hope that, notwithstanding the novelty of COVID 19, it will never be bigger than our natural inclination to get together and solve our problems as a collective," he said.

He added the ILO was known for dialogue and collective problem solving and hoped that the organisation would draw into its wealth of experience and use that to contain the spread and effects of COVID-19 in the world.

He said at the outbreak of the disease Eswatini under the leadership of His Majesty the King Mswati III, declared a national emergency on March 17, 2020 and thereafter promulgated coronavirus regulations which were followed by specific guidelines dealing with sector specific prevention measures.

He stated as a country, Eswatini has done everything possible to protect loss of employment as a result of COVID-19 and issued guidelines on employment contingency measures which amongst other things provided for employment arrangements to mitigate against loss of earnings.

Also interim measures for workplace governance which specifically addressed processes to lay off employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, control on retrenchments, variation of contracts of employment, wages councils negotiations and occupational safety and health for all workers and, in particular, health care workers have been undertaken.

He added as layoffs have been increasing in the past months, government has established a relief fund for workers who have been laid off.

“To date, 12 000 workers were expected to benefit from the fund. He mentioned this was a short term relief and workers would benefit for a maximum of two months.

He mentioned it had become urgent for the country to set up an unemployment insurance scheme to cushion workers in times such as these.

"We wish to thank the ILO for the budget support to initiate the UIF in Eswatini," he said. He further said the government of Eswatini would mobilise local resources to also contribute to this exercise.

He said the ILO centenary declaration for the future of work, 2019 was appropriate for post COVID-19 World of Work as it packaged how leaders of governments together with their social partners being workers and employers could rise up to the challenge and increase investment in people’s capabilities, increase investment in the institutions of work as well as increase investment in decent and sustainable work.

He also re-affirms the government of Eswatini’s commitment to the values and principles of the ILO.

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