BY MBONO MDLULI
LOBAMBA – Parliament has appointed a seven-member Select Committee to investigate the reported downsizing at the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC).
This decision was made during the House of Assembly sitting on March 26, 2025. The committee comprises Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu, Mambanyatsi MP Dr. Bonginkhosi Dlamini, Prince Mshengu, Lubombo Region MP Futhi Ngcamphalala, Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini, Mtfongwaneni MP Nathie Hlophe, and MP Tsembeni Magongo.
The selection followed an in-depth debate on the matter, which included contributions from MPs and Cabinet ministers. The motion to form the committee was introduced by Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini and seconded by Mtfongwaneni MP Nathie Hlophe.
In motivating his motion, MP Dlamini warned that downsizing at EPTC would not only affect the workers but also exacerbate the country’s already high unemployment rate. He stressed that the founding principle of parastatals was to create employment opportunities—not to pursue profit at the expense of workers.
Dlamini highlighted concerns about long-term temporary workers at EPTC, some of whom have worked under non-permanent contracts for 15 to 17 years without being made permanent. He expressed dismay that some of these workers had taken out loans, unaware they would be laid off within days and forced to repay with their gratuities.
He also raised issues regarding the management of EPTC, noting that some executives were beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60, yet were contributing to decisions that could send younger employees home. He called for a review of such cases and expressed concern over alleged irregularities in the company’s tendering processes.
Seconding the motion, MP Hlophe emphasized that job losses should be avoided. He pointed out a contradiction in the company’s actions—two employees had recently left, only for their positions to be re-advertised, despite claims of overstaffing.
However, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg offered a differing perspective. He argued that while employment was a benefit, the primary goal of parastatals should be efficiency and effective service delivery. He asserted that EPTC was overstaffed and changes were necessary to maintain the corporation’s performance.
Rijkenberg assured Parliament that permanent employees facing downsizing would receive fair packages. For contract workers, he noted that contract renewal was at the discretion of the employer.
Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya also addressed the House, assuring MPs that her office was open to addressing concerns. She explained that EPTC, being an engineering-driven enterprise, engaged many contract workers for short-term projects. Of the current 210 contract workers, only 30 were being affected by the downsizing.
