MBABANE – Eswatini has been dropped from the list of countries set to face scrutiny at the ongoing 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, following collective efforts by government, workers, and employers.
The annual ILC, which began on Monday, 2 June and runs until 13 June 2025, had initially listed Eswatini among 40 countries scheduled for discussion over alleged violations of International Labour Convention No. 144 of 1976 on Tripartite Consultations. The convention, ratified by the Kingdom in 1981, calls for inclusive dialogue between government, employers, and workers on labour standards.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security confirmed on Thursday that the kingdom had been excluded from the final list of cases, a move attributed to joint consultations among all social partners through the Labour Advisory Board (LAB).
Ahead of the conference, several meetings were held locally between the ministry and representatives of workers and employers. The outcome was a unified national position that Eswatini had made significant strides in strengthening its social dialogue structures and therefore did not warrant international review under Convention 144.
The Ministry described the removal as a national success and commended all social partners for choosing internal engagement over international confrontation.
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