Ei-iE

Education International (EI) launched a petition on the trade union platform LabourStart in support of the the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), its affiliate in the country. EI called on the Eswatini Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to recognize the SNAT as a partner in social dialogue, reinstate SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini to his teaching duties, and pay his salary arrears as ordered by the court.

For too many years, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), its President Mbongwa Dlamini, and General Secretary Lot Mduduzi Vilakati have been targeted by the authorities of Eswatini. In June 2024, the International Labour Conference expressed “deep concern over the deteriorating state of public order and its negative impact on trade union rights in Eswatini, along with a culture of impunity for crimes against trade unionists.” The ILO urged the Government to take effective, urgent, and time-bound measures to refrain from violent treatment, intimidation, or harassment (including judicial harassment) of leaders and members of trade unions in the education sector conducting lawful trade union activities, and to conduct independent investigations into the persecution of Mr. Mbongwa Dlamini. Furthermore, it called for ensuring that workers’ organisations, including the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) and SNAT, have the autonomy and independence needed to fulfill their mandate and represent their members.

Since the ILO recommendations, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and his senior management have met weekly with SNAT representatives. However, the TSC continues to refuse to release the SNAT President's teacher wage despite two industrial court orders. The TSC also refuses to meet with teacher union representatives to address key policies and practices affecting the profession.

In March 2023, an EI High-Level Mission visited Eswatini to reiterate on-site the support of the global education union community to colleagues in the country. The EI delegation, composed of EI General Secretary David Edwards, EI Vice-President Mugwena Maluleke, and the Director of the EI Africa Regional Office Dennis Sinyolo, urged the national governmental authorities to put an immediate halt to the persecution of SNAT leaders.

EI will continue to advocate for the respect basic human and trade union rights of SNAT leaders and members and for the introduction of democratic governance in Eswatini.