Trade Union Congress of Eswatini explained

TUCOSWA
Location Country:Eswatini
Affiliation:ITUC
Members:35,000 (2013)
Full Name:Trade Union Congress of Eswatini
Founded:2012
Key People:Mduduzi Gina, acting General Secretary

The Trade Union Congress of Eswatini (TUCOSWA) is a Swazi trade union federation.

TUCOSWA was formed in January 2012 and in 2013 had 35,000 members. It was initially recognised and registered by the Eswatini government.

The Eswatini government chose to deregister TUCOSWA in April 2013, in violation of the rules of the International Labour Organization (ILO)[1] (convention 87)[2] that Eswatini has ratified. TUCOSWA is thus effectively an illegal organisation. Eswatini is therefore in effect without an overarching trade union federation, as the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions and the Swaziland Federation of Labour that formed TUCOSWA disbanded their organisations upon the formation of TUCOSWA.[3] [4] [5]

There have been several reports of police clamping down on TUCOSWA.[6] [7] [8]

South African Trade Union Federation COSATU and Danish NGO Africa Contact started a campaign to lift the ban on TUCOSWA during July 2013.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Times Of Swaziland . Times.co.sz . 2013-06-17 . 2013-09-01.
  2. Web site: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention . . www.ilo.org . 1948 . 2023-05-25 . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20150605223432/http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C087 . June 5, 2015 . live.
  3. Web site: Unban TUCOSWA, says ILO, unions, NGOs | Kenworthy News Media - development & socio-political issues . Stiffkitten.wordpress.com . 2013-07-03 . 2013-09-01.
  4. Web site: Times Of Swaziland . Times.co.sz . 2013-09-01.
  5. Web site: Swaziland: Unban Tucoswa, Says ILO Unions (Page 1 of 2) . allAfrica.com . 2013-07-04 . 2013-09-01.
  6. Web site: Times Of Swaziland . Times.co.sz . 2013-09-01.
  7. Web site: Arrested for sporting a union logo: Swaziland | Blogs | Amnesty International UK . .amnesty.org.uk . 2012-05-12 . 2013-09-01.
  8. Web site: Annual Report: Swaziland 2013 | Amnesty International USA . Amnestyusa.org . 2013-05-23 . 2013-09-01.
  9. Web site: Unban the trade union movement in Swaziland, says COSATU and Africa Contact | AFRIKA KONTAKT . Afrika.dk . 2013-09-01.
  10. Web site: Act Now! COSATU calls for the unbaning of TUCOSWA . Cosatu.org.za . 2013-07-04 . 2013-09-01.