Business Eswatini has received a formal and time-sensitive request from the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, inviting our esteemed membership to nominate representatives to serve on the National Wages Councils for the upcoming three-year term, spanning 2026 to 2029. 

This communication serves as an official call for nominations to ensure that the business community’s interests are robustly represented in the national dialogue regarding wage regulations and the establishment of fair labour standards. The participation of private sector representatives is critical to maintaining a balanced and sustainable economic environment that fosters both industrial growth and social equity.

Context of the Call: The National Wages Councils are statutory bodies tasked with reviewing and recommending minimum wage levels and employment conditions across various industries. This 2026-2029 term represents a significant opportunity for Business Eswatini members to influence the regulatory framework that governs labour costs and operational standards in their respective sectors.

Members are encouraged to identify and nominate individuals who possess the necessary industry expertise, professional integrity, and commitment to serve as the collective voice for their industry sector. Your prompt action in this regard is essential to meet the timelines set by the Ministry and to ensure our sector-specific interests are protected at a national policy level.

Please review the following sections of this document for detailed instructions on eligible sectors, mandatory documentation standards, and the final submission protocols.

Industry Sectors for Nomination

Nominations are currently open for employer representatives across eighteen (18) distinct industry sectors. Each sector operates under a specific Wage Council mandated to regulate industrial relations, wage structures, and employment terms unique to that field.

2.1 Designated Sectors for the 2026-2029 Term

Members are invited to submit nominations for the following regulated industries:

Sector Name	Sector Name (Continued)
1. Agriculture Industry	10. Pre-School and Day Care Centers Industry
2. Building and Construction Industry	11. Retail, Hairdressing, Wholesale and Distributive Trades Industry
3. Domestic Employees	12. Road Transportation Industry
4. Funeral Undertakers Industry	13. Support Employees in Schools and Educational Institutions
5. Forestry and Forest Industry	14. Watching and Protective (Security) Industry
6. Manufacture and Sale of Handcraft Industry	15. Textile and Apparel Industry
7. Mining and Quarrying Industry	16. Manufacturing and Processing Industry
8. Micro-Money Lenders Industry	17. Media Industry
9. Motor Engineering Industry	18. Hotel and Catering Industry

Note on Sector Selection: Members should ensure that their nominees possess substantial operational or management experience within the specific sector for which they are nominated. This ensures that the technical complexities and economic challenges of each industry are accurately presented during council deliberations.

Business Eswatini emphasizes the importance of wide representation within these sectors. Small, medium, and large-scale enterprises are all encouraged to participate to ensure that the eventual wage orders are inclusive and sustainable for businesses of all sizes.

Please proceed to the next section for specific details regarding the number of representatives required per sector and the mandatory documentation standards for submission.

3. Nomination and Submission Guidelines

To ensure the integrity and legal validity of the nomination process, all member submissions must strictly adhere to the following mandatory guidelines. Failure to comply with these documentation standards may result in the disqualification of the nominees by the Ministry of Labour & Social Security.

3.1 Nomination Quota per Industry Sector

In accordance with the statutory requirements for the composition of the National Wages Councils, each Industry Sector is required to nominate exactly three (3) representatives. This quota is designed to ensure a robust representation of employer interests, provide for alternate attendance where necessary, and maintain a quorum during council deliberations.

3.2 Mandatory Documentation Standards

All nomination submissions must be formal in nature and include the following elements:

• Official Letterhead: The nomination letter must be typed on the official stationery/letterhead of the nominating company or relevant industry association.

• Formal Authorization: The document must be signed off by a relevant authority within the organization (e.g., Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, or Head of Human Resources).

• Professional Biography: Each individual nominee must be accompanied by a short biography (approximately 150-250 words) detailing their professional background, years of experience in the specific industry, and previous experience with labour relations or wage negotiations, if any.

3.3 Required Nominee Contact Details

For administrative purposes and to facilitate direct communication from the Secretariat and the Ministry, the following details must be provided for every nominee:

Requirement	Description
Full Name	The complete legal name as it appears on official identification documents.
Email Address	A current, active professional email address for official correspondence.
Mobile Number	A direct mobile phone number to ensure urgent communications can be relayed.

3.4 Council Limitation Policy

Important Policy Constraint: To prevent conflicts of interest and ensure representatives can dedicate sufficient time to their duties, an individual may be nominated to serve on a maximum of two (2) National Wages Councils simultaneously. Please coordinate within your industry groups to ensure nominees are not over-extended.

3.5 Submission Logistics and Deadline

Completed nomination packages should be scanned into a single PDF document and submitted electronically to the Business Eswatini Secretariat via the following email addresses:

• Primary Recipient:nelisiwem@business-eswatini.co.sz

• Copy (CC):lungiled@business-eswatini.co.sz

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, 9th of March 2026

Please note: The Secretariat requires sufficient time to consolidate all industry submissions before the final handover to the Ministry. Late submissions cannot be guaranteed inclusion in the final list of nominees for the 2026-2029 term.

4. Closing Statement

4.1 Commitment to Industrial Harmony

Business Eswatini remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the voice of the employer is not only heard but is influential in the determination of national wage policies. The effectiveness of the National Wages Councils relies heavily on the quality and dedication of the representatives nominated by our members. By putting forward your most capable industry experts, you are directly contributing to the long-term industrial harmony and economic stability of our nation.

We wish to express our sincere appreciation in advance for your prompt attention to this urgent call for nominations. We recognize the administrative effort required to identify and document suitable candidates, and we thank you for your continued dedication to the collective interests of the business community.

Contact Information: For any technical queries regarding the sector definitions or the nomination procedure, please reach out to the Secretariat via the contact details provided in the submission guidelines. We are available to assist you in ensuring your submission meets all statutory requirements.

We look forward to receiving your nominations by the close of business on Monday, 9th of March 2026.

From: Info |Business Eswatini
Sent: Wednesday, 25 February 2026 21:08
Subject: Urgent Call for Nominations: Representatives for National Wages Councils (2026-2029 Term)
Importance: High

Dear Valued Member,

Please find attached a formal request from the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, inviting nominations for representatives to serve on the National Wages Councils for the next three-year term, spanning 2026 through 2029.

This is a critical opportunity for the business community to ensure its voice is represented in the regulation of wages and the establishment of fair labour standards across the nation. Participation in these councils allows employers to directly influence the socio-economic framework governing industrial relations in Eswatini.

1.1 Scope of Representation

We are seeking nominations for representatives to serve on the councils for the following 18 industry sectors:

• Agriculture Industry	• Pre-School and Day Care Centers Industry
• Building and Construction Industry	• Retail, Hairdressing, Wholesale and Distributive Trades
• Domestic Employees	• Road Transportation Industry
• Funeral Undertakers Industry	• Support Employees in Schools and Educational Institutions
• Forestry and Forest Industry	• Watching and Protective (Security) Industry
• Manufacture and Sale of Handcraft Industry	• Textile and Apparel Industry
• Mining and Quarrying Industry	• Manufacturing and Processing Industry
• Micro-Money Lenders Industry	• Media Industry
• Motor Engineering Industry	• Hotel and Catering Industry

1.2 Submission Guidelines and Requirements

Mandatory Quota: Each sector is required to nominate  three (3) representatives to the Wage Council to ensure adequate representation and depth of expertise.

To ensure your nominations are consolidated and forwarded to the Ministry within the prescribed timeframe, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Submission Method: All nominations must be submitted electronically. Please email the details to nelisiwem@business-eswatini.co.sz and copy (CC) lungiled@business-eswatini.co.sz.

• Submission Deadline: All entries must be received no later than Monday, 9th of March 2026. Late submissions may result in the sector lacking employer representation.

• Required Nominee Details: For each of the three (3) nominees, please provide:        

1. Full Legal Name

2. Current Professional Email Address

3. Direct Mobile Phone Number

• Committee Limitation: In accordance with current Government policy, an individual may be nominated to serve on a maximum of two (2) different councils simultaneously.

1.3 Closing Remarks

Your prompt participation is crucial for ensuring our collective interests are effectively represented at the national level. These councils serve as the primary vehicle for tripartism and social dialogue regarding remuneration and conditions of employment.

We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to building a competitive and fair business environment in Eswatini. Please refer to the attached letter from the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Social Security for full statutory details.