By Mbongeni Ndlela
MBABANE – Eswatini has reiterated its commitment to advancing jobs, rights, and growth through powerful partnerships and inclusive dialogue.
Addressing world leaders at the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on June 11, 2025, Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi shared how collaboration between government, employers, and trade unions is shaping a more just and prosperous future for all emaSwati.
Representing Eswatini’s tripartite delegation, Buthelezi highlighted that social justice cannot exist in isolation, it must be anchored in decent jobs, protected rights, and shared economic growth.
In line with this year’s conference theme, “Jobs, Rights and Growth: Reinforcing the Connection”, Eswatini presented its own success story of social partnership.
Key to this progress is the innovative bipartite forum established between Business Eswatini (BE) and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). Buthelezi hailed this platform as a beacon of cooperation, focused on addressing pressing issues that affect both businesses and workers, from job creation and skills development to labour policies and economic stability.
“The forum is more than a conversation; it is a commitment to mutual growth and national unity,” noted the minister.
The country also celebrated the successful hosting of its inaugural Investment Conference on May 14, 2025, which brought together global investors, government leaders, development partners, and local entrepreneurs. This initiative, aligned with Eswatini’s national growth strategy and shaped by the outcomes of the 2023 People’s Parliament, is designed to reignite economic momentum and job creation.
But Eswatini’s journey doesn’t end there. Buthelezi announced the upcoming finalization of reforms to the Labour Advisory Board and the National Steering Committee on Social Dialogue. These bodies are being strengthened to ensure that all voices, workers, employers, and policymakers, are included in shaping the country’s labour and economic policies.
At a time when many nations are seeking a new model for sustainable growth and labour rights, Eswatini is proving that real progress comes through partnership, trust, and inclusive dialogue. With its strong voice in Geneva, the Kingdom positioned itself not only as a participant, but as a leader, of the global movement for decent work and social justice.