BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
LOBAMBA – Government is stepping up efforts to create employment opportunities for emaSwati abroad by strengthening bilateral relations with friendly nations and pursuing formal labour agreements that could open overseas job markets.
This emerged in Parliament when the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Senator Pholile Shakantu, responded to questions from Lobamba Lomdzala Member of Parliament Marwick Khumalo, who wanted to know whether facilitating employment opportunities for citizens was among the responsibilities of Eswatini’s embassies and missions abroad.
Shakantu confirmed that promoting employment opportunities for emaSwati outside the country formed part of the ministry’s mandate, saying diplomatic missions also worked to unlock business, investment and tourism opportunities through bilateral cooperation.
She explained that employment facilitation was undertaken in collaboration with relevant government ministries, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, as labour-related agreements required a coordinated approach.
“Our embassies do facilitate employment opportunities for emaSwati outside Eswatini. We establish bilateral relations and cooperation agreements, some of which are sector-specific, including agriculture and education, while working closely with the responsible ministries where employment opportunities are concerned,” she said.
The minister revealed that government was actively exploring opportunities in the Gulf region, particularly Qatar, where discussions on labour cooperation were continuing.
She said Eswatini had previously engaged Qatar with hopes of securing employment opportunities linked to the FIFA World Cup that was to be held there, but government was now revisiting those discussions as part of broader efforts to expand labour markets for emaSwati.
“We are looking at how we can get emaSwati working in the Gulf and will continue exploring those opportunities through our bilateral relations,” she said.
Shakantu acknowledged that countries such as Kenya had successfully concluded labour agreements with Qatar, enabling thousands of their citizens to work there.
She said government had studied such arrangements and understood that they were based on the labour demands of the receiving country.
Although Eswatini does not yet have a formal labour agreement with Qatar, the minister said emaSwati were already employed in the Gulf state, albeit in relatively small numbers.
She disclosed that more than 200 emaSwati were currently working in the Gulf region, most occupying highly skilled or high-value positions.
Because of the relatively small workforce currently employed there, she said Eswatini could not simply replicate agreements involving the export of thousands of workers without first ensuring that citizens possessed the skills required by international employers.
“If we want to send emaSwati to work in sectors such as hospitality, we first have to prepare and train them with the necessary skills. Labour migration must be driven by the demand that exists in the receiving country,” she said.
Shakantu said government had consulted countries that had successfully exported labour in large numbers and had observed opportunities for professionals such as nurses and teachers in overseas markets.
She said government was now working towards establishing formal labour agreements with countries where demand for skilled workers existed.
The minister further revealed that government had already adopted a National Labour Migration Policy to regulate and strengthen labour migration.
She said a multi-sector committee had been established to implement the policy and identify countries where employment opportunities existed for emaSwati.
According to Shakantu, the committee had also identified several international legal instruments that Eswatini must ratify before concluding labour agreements with other countries.
“There are about three international instruments that we must ratify before entering into formal labour agreements. Once those processes are complete, government will be in a position to approach identified countries and conclude agreements using an approved framework for memoranda of understanding,” she said.
Beyond labour opportunities, the minister said Eswatini’s diplomatic missions continued to promote trade, investment, education and tourism partnerships as part of government’s broader economic diplomacy agenda.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Eswatini in Qatar, located in West Bay, Lusail, has been operational since 2010 following His Majesty King Mswati III’s State Visit to the Gulf nation. Besides Qatar, the mission is accredited to Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Singapore and Syria, placing it in a strategic position to strengthen economic and labour cooperation across the region.
Shakantu also informed Parliament that government was pursuing similar engagements with South Africa through the revival of the bilateral commission, where ministers from both countries would meet to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including matters with the potential to benefit emaSwati seeking employment opportunities.
#Eswatini #Employment #LabourMigration #ForeignAffairs #Qatar #Jobs #Parliament #EconomicDiplomacy #BilateralRelations #EmaSwatiAbroad
