28 June 2023
Business Eswatini will be making their comments on the Employment Bill in Parliament on Friday the 30th June 2023. The Employment Bill has been undergoing reform since 2005 and with the world of work dynamically changing in the past few years, it has become increasingly crucial for the country to come up with an Employment Bill that is fit-for-purpose, especially in light of the country’s undertakings under ILO’s decent work country program.
As such, Business Eswatini, in their 10th edition of the Annual Labour Law Seminar held recently put the Employment Bill on the spotlight, with the aim being to educate its members on the bill while scrutinizing its shortcomings that need to be reviewed before it is passed as law. It must be said that the bill is not entirely without its positives such as seen in the proposed terms for probation which is under Section 22 in the bill. However, employers are most concerned with the areas that can cause a negative impact in the business environment such as the prohibition of labour broking which if passed into law as proposed in Section 129 together with the provisions which outlaw outsourcing and subcontracting of what is termed as core business as scripted in Section 130, can cause unintended and disastrous outcomes in the business space. Mass retrenchments and unemployment se possible effects.
However, as Business Eswatini we are grateful for the opportunity to bring the organization’s comments before Parliament on a certificate of urgency. As the apex private sector representative body in the kingdom, we are confident that the Parliament will pay heed to our plea and consider our submission, as they often do.
By Management