Africa-Press – Eswatini. Textile workers around the country have resolved to down tools and take to the streets tomorrow. This decision taken by the textile workers comes after nationwide consultation meetings held by the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and textile workers of different companies.
Some of these consultative meetings on the 6.2 per cent increment proposed wages at the Wages Council in the Textile and Apparel Industry were held at Juries Manufacturing and Fashion International, among other factories in the country.
ATUSWA, which represents textile workers in the country, boasts of membership which stands at over 4 000 with 65 per cent being women employed in the textile industry. During these meetings, it sufficed that textile employees are not happy with the salaries they are getting, which they have said can barely sustain their livelihoods.
The textile workers said price commodities in the markets have skyrocketed, yet salaries remained the same.
They said some of the basic things they need, such as bread and fuel, have also skyrocketed this year. Difficult This, according to the textile workers coupled with the salary they earn, has made life difficult for them.
The textile workers unanimously agreed that they should take to the streets and deliver a petition to the minister of labour and social security. ATUSWA General Secretary Wander Mkhonza confirmed the protest march to deliver the petition tomorrow.
According to Mkhonza, in Manzini the march will start opposite Matsapha Town Council next to the filling station and proceed to Manzini Department of Labour Offices, while the Nhlangano march will start opposite Zheng Yong ground proceeding to Nhlangano Department of Labour Offices next to post offices.
Mkhonza said they had already written to the relevant municipalities and town councils seeking for permission to host the march.
He said they wrote a letter on Friday, and they hope by the end of the day today, they will receive a positive response. Petition He said another concern which they raised in the petition is the Wages Council set up. He said the manner in which the Wages Council is assembled is no longer working for textile workers.
Explaining this, Mkhonza said they wanted a review of how independent members are appointed.
He said for the past three years, the Wages Council has been using the consensus system. He explained that there was one person representing workers, another representing employers and the other an independent member appointed by government.
He explained that this presented a scenario, where every time as workers they were outvoted by two members against one. He said the independent member always sided with the employers and did not take the interest of workers into heart. Mkhonza said it must be considered that they were dealing with the lives of Emaswati under the unfolding tough economic times.
“The decision to take to the streets was taken by workers in our wide consultation meetings the whole of last week,” Mkhonza said. The Municipal Council of Manzini confirmed having received a letter of the intended march.
Public Relations Officer Mathokoza Thwala said they received the letter at 4:30pm on Friday, which, as he said, was unfortunately their knock off time.
“It will be processed tomorrow (Monday),” Thwala stated. Manzini public transport workers also resolved last week that there would be no buses and kombis tomorrow, as workers would be protesting over fuel hike, poor state of the roads and unmet demands by the public transport owners.
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