On January 19th, 2011, the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City will hold the world premiere of Not My Life — a feature-length documentary film about modern-day slavery and global human trafficking, about horrifying practices that affect millions of children, women and men in every part of the world — a shameful but neglected reality in our “global village”.

Globalization has brought us many advantages indeed, but its related deregulation processes have also facilitated some inhuman practices. Bonded labor, debt-related slavery, commercial sexual exploitation and other forms of forced labor and related trafficking have become a global industry — very conservatively estimated at over $32 billion by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2005 and even higher numbers in more recent reports by other organizations, the United States’ State Department, etc.

All varieties of forced labor and human trafficking are treated as criminal practices, prohibited in international law and most national legislation. It is covered by international treaties and covenants, including three United Nations Protocols and three ILO Conventions, which are unique in the sense that they include elements of criminal law and its enforcement. The overwhelming majority of governments have ratified these instruments and developed and/or improved related national laws and technical cooperation programs. Yet, the illegal and hidden nature of different forms of forced labor and trafficking makes it very difficult to crack down such practices. Very few victims are rescued on a global basis.

There are indeed many committed institutions and compassionate individuals advocating an end to modern slavery, and many of them are working with governments and their law enforcement agencies. But these efforts need to be strengthened with more financial resources and also proactive media to mobilize public opinion, particularly consumer awareness, as well as private business initiatives, etc. Businesses today cannot afford to run risks of association with any form of child labor and forced labor and related human trafficking in their own business operations and their supply chains, no matter how difficult it may be for them to monitor and control these complex chains.

Particularly in countries with well developed legislation and strong human rights advocacy groups, any company facing allegations of profiting from forced labor exploitation will not only find their reputation severely damaged, but may also face costly lawsuits and criminal prosecution. The same is generally true for at least some of the “worst forms of child labor” defined under ILO Convention 182 and related UN Protocols. These issues have become a significant risk management concern for companies. But few of them are engaged proactively in multistakeholder efforts to crack down on forced labor, child labor and human trafficking. It would indeed help them fence off their own risks if they would become more actively engaged.

Not My Life is a film that can make a difference in informing and mobilizing public opinion and multistakeholder initiatives. Although the topics addressed — especially female sexual trafficking — have been seen in television reports, there is a lack of feature length films that effectively depict the problem of modern slavery as a whole targeting a mass audience and, in addition, can provide, at little or no cost, edited versions of the film for educational and fundraising purposes and to help enhance cooperation.

Not My Life is the outcome of four years of planning and hard work by its director, writer and producer, Robert Bilheimer. It was filmed in North and South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. I first met Robert in Washington, DC, in early 2007 when he was seeking support from United States agencies and international organizations to help him define the focus, scope, funding and outreach of his envisaged new film. As Director of ILO for the United States, I engaged frequently with Robert in his efforts and, in this process, we became close friends as well. Robert’s compassionate worldview and artistic style had been evident in A Closer Walk, his highly acclaimed documentary about global HIV-AIDS. This character and style would inevitably lead him to produce a humanistic essay about slavery that, as he once put it, would

provide a deeper understanding of the way the world is and our relationship to one another as human beings in a planetary society. …The viewers around the world who see this film will ask themselves: what kind of society have we created that allows traffickers to profit and prey on — of all things — human lives? The lives of innocent children? The lives of young women and girls? The lives of men who have been robbed of their dignity and self-respect long before enslaving criminals appeared to take what little they had left?

Yet, the nature of this complex theme required more than a humanistic approach. It dealt with crimes. It required an in-depth knowledge of the international and national instruments and loopholes, and the efforts of some UN agencies, NGOs and government agencies dealing with the scourge of modern slavery and related trafficking. Robert and I had long discussions about how a poetic humanistic perspective could in fact enhance what the UN agencies and NGOs, and many governments and some companies were trying to achieve.

Not My Life’s premiere will be a celebration of all those individuals and organizations working to end slavery in our time. Many of those appearing in the film itself will attend the premiere, including guests from several countries, among them, prominent government figures, leaders from NGOs, United Nations agencies and private business, members of the arts and entertainment communities, including the film’s narrator, Ashley Judd, and musical contributors Dave Brubeck, Derek Trucks, and Susan Tedeschi. Members of the international press corps will be in attendance to mark what the organizers anticipate will be a watershed event for one of the most complex and troubling human rights issues of our time. The premiere, which will be attended by approximately 1,000 people, will be followed by a limited theatrical run of Not My Life in select theatres in the United States, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

(The Huffington Post)

The word for “crisis” in Chinese has the extra connotation of “opportunity”, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global wage report researchers explain. With a fair degree of wilful optimism, the study suggests that the current economic and job crises might provide a good, probably unique, opportunity to develop a much more effective wage policy, which would contribute to an economy that’s actually sustainable, both in industrialised and developing countries.

The data shows that the crises have hit employment and wage levels harder in advanced economies, but these countries can rely on well established social protection systems. The question, beyond the statistics, is what the impact will be in developing countries, in terms of wealth redistribution, desirable work opportunities and social justice. continue

The International Labour Conference of the ILO adopted a new Recommendation concerning HIV and AIDS and the world of work in June 2010. What response has it received since adoption?

Sophia Kisting: The response has really been quite overwhelming and the enthusiasm with which it has been taken up is very encouraging for us.

Those who were here during the second discussion on the Recommendation at the ILC in 2010 went back to their countries feeling that they had a strong human rights labour standard that can help them improve the issue of stigma and discrimination in their workplaces.

Beyond the initial response, there is also a very important understanding that countries need to report back to the Committee of Experts at the ILC in June 2011 on progress made in giving effect to the Recommendation. The first step is to translate the labour standard and have it checked by different ministries, so that it becomes a legal document that belongs to the government as a whole. National parliaments should then dedicate time during a parliamentary session to discuss how to give effect to the Recommendation.

We have had requests from several countries for the Recommendation to be translated. A number of trade union federations and employer organizations have asked for support and the necessary materials to make presentations to their members about the Recommendation. Ministers of labour have also been very keen for the ILO to initiate tripartite workshops on the Recommendation.

Furthermore, what has been really striking is how the networks of persons living with HIV have responded with such enthusiasm to the Recommendation.

In November 2010 the Governing Body of the ILO agreed that a Global Action Plan will be developed for giving effect to the Recommendation. What is the action plan and how will it be implemented?

Sophia Kisting: Along with the Recommendation, the 2010 ILC also adopted an accompanying resolution which requests that a Global Action Plan be established to achieve its widespread implementation. The Plan is being developed in a process of consultation and will be submitted to the ILO Governing Body in March 2011.

One of the most important steps for us is the development of national workplace policies and to make sure that they become part of the national HIV Programme and Strategy, so that the workplace response is not separate but rather part of the broader national response to HIV.

On the legislative side, we hope that our member states will give effect to the Recommendation by updating their legislation, particularly with regards to discrimination at work, by changing existing legislation that may discriminate against people living with HIV, or by writing entirely new legislation based on the Recommendation.

We aim to support at least 50 member states with the development of national workplace policies by the end of 2011 and at least 90 by 2015. I believe given the response that we have had so far, we can be much more ambitious than 90 countries.

The target of 2015 is related specifically to Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6 on combating HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. However it is clear that, particularly in countries with high burdens of HIV, the virus is a hindrance to achieving all of the MDGs. To reach all of the Goals, we have to find a way to deal with HIV and AIDS.

The UNAIDS vision for 2015 is zero new infections, zero HIV deaths and zero discrimination. This is an aspirational goal and is one that the workplace can play an effective role in helping to achieve.

Has the ILO received commitments from any Governments so far that the Recommendation will pass into national legislation?

Sophia Kisting: After the first discussion of the Recommendation in 2009, the government of Brazil developed specific legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of HIV status, real or perceived, for purposes of work.

Since adoption, we have had at least three ILO member states in the Africa region which have asked us to help review their legislation in the context of the new Recommendation. During the tripartite workshops foreseen for the development of national workplace policies in members States, there will be specific time given to the legislative aspect.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is Universal Access and Human Right; the ILO now has a human rights instrument concerning HIV and AIDS in the world of work. Can you tell us more about HIV and AIDS as a human rights issue?

Sophia Kisting: In the past HIV has been seen primarily as a health issue, but we have learned through the effects of for example, stigma and discrimination, that it is a much broader issue. It is very much an economic development issue and, above all perhaps, a human rights issue.

There is a tremendous amount of stigma and discrimination even now 30 years after the first patients were diagnosed with HIV. We feel that the government, worker and employer representatives of the ILO have made it possible for us to have a labour standard to tackle these issues and protect human rights.

In detail, the complaint against the Government of Cambodia was presented by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) following the murder of three trade union leaders and claiming the continuing repression of trade unionists in the country.

Complaints against the Government of Panama were presented by trade unions in the construction sector allegedly fot the murders and acts of violence against trade union officials and members, for the detention of union members, for the violation of the right to collective bargaining, the establishment of a trade union by an enterprise and the dismissal of some union members.

In the case of Fiji, the public sector education trade unions and associations issued complaints against the Government for the Dismissal of a trade union leader in the education sector and for the ongoing anti-union harassment and interference with internal trade union affairs.

As for the Government of Argentina, the complaint was presented by the Building Workers’ Union alleging the violent occupation and theft of materials from its headquarters in the city of Comodoro Rivadavia, in the Province of Chubut, a firearms attack on the home of a union leader and on a union headquarters building, plus temporary detention of leaders and workers who took part in a protest, and temporary kidnapping of a union leader.

While, the Venezuelan Workers’ Confederation presented a complaint against the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following a number of alleged violations. The union says that the Office of the Attorney-General has brought charges of boycotting against six workers at the enterprise Petróleos de Venezuela SA for staging protests to demand their labour rights; that protests have been criminalized, legal proceedings at various enterprises have been initiated and union officials have been dismissed in connection with these protests; that three officials of the Bolivarian Union of Workers in the Construction Industry in El Tigre and two union delegates in the Los Anaucos area were murdered in June 2009; also, according to the union more than 200 workers and union officials in the construction sector were murdered by contract killers and the public authorities have persistently refused to bargain collectively in the oil, electricity and national university sectors, among others.

Currently, there are 140 cases before the Committee, in which complaints have been submitted to the governments concerned for their observations. At the last meeting the Committee examined 33 cases on the merits, reaching definitive conclusions in 15 cases and interim conclusions in 18 cases . The remaining cases were adjourned. However, the Committee draws the main cases to the special attention of the ILO Governing Body.

International labour standard journalists should have a look at the report and search for their own country’s cases. It’s worth a good story on freedom of association and democracy at the workplace.

“The governments of the region have a keen interest in ensuring that our nationals and those men and women of other countries who served on board vessels flying our flags, enjoy the right to decent conditions of work,” the minister said.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the regional training workshop at Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday.

The aim of the three-day event, jointly hosted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Caribbean’s office, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, was to train port state control officers from the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries to carry out ship inspection under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

According to Charles, the Caribbean region plays a critical role in global shipping with over eight countries in the region administering major ship registry – accounting for over one fifth of the global fleet although most of the vessels are manned by foreign crews.

However, he noted that a significant portion of the hospitality crew employed on board cruise vessels, which operate in the Caribbean, are from countries in the region.

As it relates to the convention, Minister Charles said that Jamaica has not yet ratified the convention but fully supported it coming into force and subsequent implementation.

“The convention not only consolidates a number of ILO maritime conventions, but also establishes an effective system of compliance and enforcement that helps to eliminate substandard shipping in the Caribbean region and the world,” Charles said.

So far, Charles said the ministry has collaborated with the transport ministry, the Maritime Authority, Port Authority and the Caribbean Maritime Institute to ensure that there is a policy and legal framework in place for the development of a sustainable shipping industry that meets the international accepted labour standard established by the ILO.

Director of Legal affairs at the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Bertrand Smith said that the country is now in the process of reviewing existing laws and Shipping Act to determine what should be repealed or amended.

Meantime, Dominique Devlin — ILO special advisor on MLC — said that the MLC contains a comprehensive set of global standards, based on those that are already found in over 60 maritime labour instruments, and sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions, which include medical care, contract of employment, social security and accommodation.

(The Jamaica Observer)

If poverty justifies child labour, then it should also justify burglary, prostitution, kidnapping, smuggling and all other crimes. Child labour is a much more serious crime compared to others, because unlike other crimes that affect individuals, child labour affects an entire generation.

Child labour is work that is unacceptable because the children involved are either too young or because, even though they have attained the minimum age to take up employment, the work that they do is unsuitable for a person below the age of 18. Child labour is a violation of fundamental human rights and has been shown to hinder children’s development. According to the last available statistics, Pakistan has a total population of 158 million, which includes a total of 40 million children, out of which 3.8 million are the victims of child labour. Many children are victims of the worst forms of child labour, such as bonded labour and slavery, and are easily exploited and abused on account of their vulnerability. It was found that of the total population of child labourers, seven percent suffered from illness or injuries frequently and 28 percent occasionally.

Child labour is not an isolated phenomenon. It is the outcome of a multitude of socio-economic factors and poverty is among its most prominent aspects. In Pakistan, around 30 percent of the people are living below the poverty line. Due to the unfair distribution of income, unemployment and inflation, poor parents are forced to send their children to work for economic reasons. In many cases, poverty has also led to the bonded labour of children. There are specific cases of children being pledged or bonded in return for loans to their parent(s) or guardian, notably in the carpet industry and in agriculture. The way children are absorbed and obliged to work varies but, as a matter of routine, the children of bonded families start working as soon as they reach school age, if not before. According to these parents, their actions are completely justified on account of their poverty. However, if poverty justifies child labour, then it should also justify burglary, prostitution, kidnapping, smuggling and all other crimes. Child labour is a much more serious crime compared to others, because unlike other crimes that affect individuals, child labour affects an entire generation.

Another factor that leads to child labour is the over-population in Pakistan. It is very common here for a couple that cannot even afford to raise one child, to have six or seven children. Pakistan now has one of the highest figures for unmet need for family planning in the world. The problem is that people in Pakistan believe that the use of contraceptives will go against their religious beliefs, according to which children are a blessing of God and, therefore, preventing their birth would be a sin. However, while following their ‘religious obligations’ they often forget that a parent’s duty does not end at bringing a child into this world, feeding the child, educating him/her and providing a decent lifestyle is part of their responsibility. Naturally, with seven hungry children crying in the house and not enough money to feed even one of them, their parents consider sending them to work as the best option.

The quality of education in Pakistan is another factor that contributes to increasing child labour. The truth is that many parents feel that it is useless to send their children to school as there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it, not only because there is a dearth of jobs, but because the quality of education provided in municipal schools is abysmal. Among the factors that affect the quality and accessibility of education are qualified teachers, adequate facilities, proper funding, comprehensive curriculums, affordable tuition fees and the availability of scholarships.

Natural calamities and crises also play a huge role in giving rise to child labour. The recent floods that hit Pakistan can be seen as a major threat to the future of thousands of children. Once the families that have been displaced by the floods return to their homes, they will encourage their children to go to work and help restore the family. Media reports have indicated that children from the flood-hit regions are being promised lucrative jobs, taken away from their families and then being used for sex work. An increase in child labour was noted after the previous natural calamity — the 2005 earthquake. There are fears that this pattern could be repeated.

The gap between the law and its implementation is a serious problem in Pakistan. According to the Child Labour Law in Pakistan, a child cannot be employed before the age of 15, under any circumstances. Moreover, bonded labour, or ‘debt bondage’ is a practice condemned by the UN as being similar to slavery and consequently a violation of Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is considered by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to constitute forced labour and to be a violation of the ILO’s Convention no 29 on forced labour. However, the government has not put its laws into practice to stop child labour and these laws are universally ignored in Pakistan where children aged four to fourteen keep the country’s factories operating, often working in brutal and squalid conditions.

The government must ensure that all children have access to quality education until at least the minimum age of employment. It should also enhance social protection policies that can help poor families keep their children in school, e.g. through cash transfer programmes and school meals. A recent ILO study has shown that eliminating child labour in transitioning and developing economies could generate economic benefits, mostly associated with investment in better schooling and social services. Furthermore, the media should use its power to spread awareness among the masses regarding family planning. The future of Pakistan depends on whether the government chooses to use this recent crisis as a further excuse for spending cuts in key social areas, or whether it seizes the opportunity and mobilises the necessary political will to prioritise the elimination of child labour as a wise investment in future development.

The writer is a poet and Lahore based journalist. She can be reached at mashalsr@hotmail.com

(The Daily Times)

On November 5 the Indigenous Environmental Network hosted an informal meeting between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and elected leadership from First Nations in Alberta and BC to discuss Indigenous rights violations in their communities as a result of the world’s largest and most destructive development known as Canada’s Tar Sands. High on the agenda for the First Nations is the impacts of the current proposed EU Fuel Quality Directive that proposes to list Tar Sands as a dirty fuel.

Lorraine Hoffman, elected council member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation stated, “It is important to broaden the debate. It is not just about fossil fuels and alternatives, carbon emissions or potential technological fixes. The debate must encompass the impacts of tars sands development on health, livelihoods and treaty and human rights. Otherwise, the conversation will be narrow and technical and only create more injustice for Indigenous communities.”

Following this meeting First Nations representatives from the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Saik’uz First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Assembly of First Nations along with trade lawyer Steven Shrybman, author of a new legal opinion on related impacts of a proposed Canada-EU free trade agreement attended a press conference at the Charles Lynch press room at the federal Parliament Building. The aim of this press conference was to highlight the greenwashing of the tar sands by both the Alberta and Federal governments during the EU MEP tour of the Athabasca region. The First Nations who traveled to Ottawa to meet with MEP’s on the final leg of the tour are optimistic this meeting and press conference will bring forward a fair and balanced perspective on tar sands development and infrastructure on Indigenous treaty and traditional territories to EU parliamentary members.

“Our greatest concern is to maintain our sacred responsibility to protect our land and way of life for future generations. To us this is not about being compensated or getting a better deal with oil companies,” stated Chief Lameman of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation. He went on to state, “This is about protecting our inherent treaty rights as Indigenous peoples, It was unfortunate that EU Members of Parliament could not meet with First Nations in our homeland earlier in their tour to hear our concerns as true stewards of our lands, instead of only receiving the one sided propaganda from government and industry.”

“The European Union should be designating tar sands as dirty fuel as part of its fuel emissions regulations.” says Chief Thomas of the Saik’uz First Nation of Northern British Columbia on the EU Fuel Quality Directive. “Tar sands production is speeding up climate change, destroying land, forests and water, and it is subjecting Indigenous peoples to incalculable long-term harm. If Europe cares about climate change, is true to its commitment to Indigenous rights, they should take action to stop the tar sands and stop growth of tar sands infrastructure like the Enbridge pipelines and oil tankers.”

First Nations representatives commend EU leaders on the proposed Fuel Quality Directive. The European Union is very influential. Their policies are respected worldwide and often lead the way for environmental changes. If the European Union Fuel Quality Directive takes into account the higher carbon emission from the tar sands, it will help ensure other countries will follow their lead. Restrictions on markets for tar sands would have a drastic impact on the pace of Tar Sands development in Alberta and beyond.

The legal opinion from Mr. Shrybman, which was commissioned by the Council of Canadians and IEN, states that “While the terms of CETA have yet to be settled, it is clear that this proposed trade treaty is being viewed as an important test of EU priorities, particularly where the challenge of combating climate change conflicts with those of promoting further trade liberalization.” He goes on to state, “There can be no doubt that current CETA proposals have considerable potential to constrain policy, program and regulatory initiatives needed to address pressing ecological priorities, including those relating to the impacts of oil sands development.”

“The Assembly of First Nations strongly believes that any discussions – current and future – and agreements with regards to oil sands development must accommodate adhere to and respect Aboriginal titles and rights and Treaty rights of First Nations,” said AFN Vice Chief Morris of the Yukon region.

It should be noted that the European Union members are signatories to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the ILO Convention 169 on the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, as well as international treaties on human rights. These international standards must be applied to Canada and to Alberta, and the treatment of Indigenous peoples by governments and oil developers needs to be evaluated in accordance with those standards.

(Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources)

In response to human rights violations in Sri Lanka, in August 2010 the European Union withdrew the trade preferences previously granted under its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The United States Trade Representative is currently investigating whether workers’ rights violations warrant removing Sri Lanka from its own GSP scheme.

Sri Lankan employers routinely delay certification votes and fire union activists to prevent workers from joining unions. These problems are especially severe in Export Processing Zones, where the government has encouraged employers to recognise “employees’ councils” instead of trade unions. Even where collective bargaining occurs, the government can and does make strikes illegal by declaring any industry an “essential service.”

Sri Lankan law does not prohibit gender discrimination in the private sector and some industries still pay different wage rates to men and women doing the same job. While the law prohibits child labour and forced labour, both are prevalent in practice.

“As a first step toward maintaining normal access to its largest export markets, Sri Lanka must set out a clear timetable to reform its legislation and practice to meet its international commitments to uphold basic labour rights,” said Burrow.

(ITUC)

Baldoz said the comments and responses of the tripartite partners and other sectors will be included in the position of the Philippines to the proposed convention and recommendations which will set both local and international standards on domestic work.

“After years of advocacy on decent work for domestic workers in the country, we have now in our hands the draft of the international instruments that would strengthen our measures to protect and promote the welfare and development of our domestic workers both here and overseas,” said Baldoz.

The labor chief, in this regard, has directed DOLE Undersecretary Hans J. Cacdac to immediately reconvene the social partners through the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) to look at their respective comments and responses to the proposed ILO Convention to harmonize the Philippine position on the said proposed Convention before it will be transmitted to the ILO in Geneva.

Cacdac was also tasked to seek a favorable view on the survey instrument by ASEAN countries to secure a solid block in the 100th session of the International Labor Conference(ILC)in 2011.

Baldoz noted that the proposed ILO Convention and Recommendation on Decent Domestic Work will ensure the setting up of standards in the protection and promotion of domestic workers’ welfare, locally and internationally.

She dubbed the proposed Convention and Recommendation on Decent Domestic Work as a “breakthrough in the ILO’s labor standards setting efforts,” because in many parts of the world, domestic work is still not considered as “work”, thus, it is prone to abuse and exploitation.

The proposed ILO Convention and Recommendation for Decent Domestic Work will include the establishment of standards in minimum wage and its coverage, freedom of association, medical testing, accommodation, terms of employment, and protection of domestic workers.

The 99th session of the ILC in Geneva, Switzerland on June 16, 2010, approved a resolution to consider the adoption of a comprehensive standard on decent work in its session next year. The Philippines heads the Committee on Domestic Work Meetings during the said ILC.

The ILO has prepared the texts of the proposed convention and recommendation which are now being communicated to governments for comments, suggestions and responses. The governments’ comments, suggestions and responses will harmonize certain provisions and will be submitted to the next ILC in 2011

(PIA News agency)

ILO Media for labour rights award 2010 to Nina Corpuz, for her article on Domestic workers in the Philippines

The minister said, as the organisation has representatives accredited to Swaziland in South Africa, they must take it upon themselves to visit the country. He was addressing the High-Level delegation from the ILO during a courtesy visit, ahead of their departure.

The meeting took place at the ministry’s conference room.

We are keen to host you, even in happier times – be it when we have cultural events or otherwise. We deal with a number of UN (United Nations) agencies but could they come to Swaziland when there is no crisis? We need to be in constant communication regarding labour issues,” he said. The ILO delegation, under the leadership of Guy Ryder, Executive Director of Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, was expected to leave the country yesterday.

Their mission to Swaziland was three-pronged, based on the ILO’s Convention 87 on Freedom of Association.

Appreciating the courtesy visit, Dlamini said, “When you visit us under other circumstances than these you will get to learn and appreciate our way of life. You will then better understand us as a Kingdom. We have to localise issues as much as possible”

He assured the team that Swaziland is committed to having successful and vibrant industrial relations.

Such commitment he said is evidenced by the fact that the first labour law of the country was enacted in 1980 by King Sobhuza II. The minister added that the last high level meeting between the country and ILO was at the request of Swaziland.

We stand ready to make use of the tripartite relations in the country with the idea being not to make issues out of non-issues. The smaller the issue, the easier the solution,” he said.

(Times of Swaziland)