(From Swazi Media Commentary 30 December 2009 www.swazimedia.blogspot.com)
The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) outlined eight areas that
need the kingdom’s attention so as to make the year 2010 a happy one.
In an end of year statement issued by Secretary General Mduduzi Gina, the
STFU has put employment creation top of its list.
The organisation said the type of
employment needed is one “that will guarantee job security with sound
social security nets or at least with minimum conditions as envisaged
by the ILO decent work agenda”.
The organisation has also called
for “a genuine economic summit of stakeholders” which will “deliberate
on a survival kit as we move towards this cloud of economic hardship”.
Thirdly, the organisation wants government
to implement free primary education which the state has promised to
roll out on Grades One and Two next month.
Fourthly, the umbrella body of
trade unions wants “tolerance on dissent political opinions” and the
fifth one is the call for a “united mass democratic movement.
“We shall always recognise the SUDF as the
vehicle that must unite us all and lead the few miles left to
multiparty democracy,” the SFTU said.
Better working conditions for the textile and apparel sector is the
organisation’s sixth area of concern.
“The conditions of work in the
textile and apparel, hotel and catering, construction, agricultural as
well as the retail sectors have not improved, as they are still
characterised by casualisation, unsafe working conditions, forced
overtime and general denial of freedom of association,” noted the
organisation.
A “genuine social dialogue forum” and “an end to corruption in all its forms”
are the last two concerns of the trade union.
“As we shall be ushering in the New Year,
we at the SFTU shall remain committed to our resolutions of supporting
programmes that will encourage the democratisation of our kingdom.
“In fact, the federation can sing ‘happy
New Year’ with the rest of the nation all the days of the coming year
if the following (above concerns) can be achieved in the country.
Source: Times of Swaziland
Link
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2009/12/swaziland-ftu-new-years-message..html
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