Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security closed the second quarter on a strong compliance drive, completing 587 labour inspections, a 41% jump from 2024 (346) and well above 2023 (354).
The increase is linked to the procurement of four vehicles and the hiring of four labour inspectors, boosting reach and response across Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni.
Safety enforcement also intensified. Fifty-six workplaces, covering construction, textiles and apparel, manufacturing, quarries and mines, engineering, government and agriculture, were checked for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) compliance, directly reaching 5 276 workers. Inspectors issued seven Improvement Notices, compelling remedial action within set timeframes to eliminate hazards and bring sites into compliance.
Beyond inspections, the OSH Section logged 269 injury reports this quarter, including 4 fatal accidents. Investigations were completed and referred to the Attorney General’s Office, while trend analysis showed 210 minor and 55 serious injuries, with the majority occurring in construction, manufacturing and parastatals. Targeted training on risk assessments, fire readiness and machinery guarding remains a priority to bend these curves downward.
The Ministry’s wider compliance picture included 337 interventions/complaints/visits handled during the period, alongside follow-ups and technical advisory work to deepen a culture of prevention. (Regional breakdowns and monthly activity tables reflect steady fieldwork through July–September.)
While the report notes 16 redundancies affecting 2 056 employees, largely tied to external funding shifts, the Ministry’s proactive stance is clear: more inspectors on the road, more workplaces reached, and faster corrective action. The pipeline of improvements continues through planned resourcing for the inspectorate, mandatory employer training, and better digital reporting to sharpen transparency and targeted interventions.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
