Africa-Press – Eswatini. GOVERNMENT’S move to outsource cleaning services has been labelled as the worst form of infringement of workers’ rights as it promotes labour brokering which itself is known as the worst form of casualising labour.
This has been said by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
The federation’s secretary general, Mduduzi Gina, was responding to an article that was published by our sister publication, the Saturday Observer, about government’s new strategy to do away with cleaners and outsource that component to the private sector.
As such, government has recommended tha no new cleaners would now be employed in the public service. Gina, however, stated that the federation opposes the move by government as it will not save any costs but make people poor and infringe on their rights.
The latest move by government will see cleaning tasks being outsourced to professional cleaning companies. This means that an identified professional company would be providing regular cleaning services to government departments and offices with industry grade cleaning equipment and cleaning agents.
The companies will be hired on a contractual basis, and in order for them to qualify they would have to undergo known government procurement procedures. It is anticipated that they will work efficiently, with the hope to have their contracts renewed once they complete their initial engagement period.
In that way it is understood that this will be cost-effective for government, the ministry of public service principal secretary Sipho Tsabedze told the Saturday Observer.
Gina stated that the move by government was one of the many ways government used to ‘casualise labour’. This is a phrase referring to using casual labour for jobs instead of engaging them on full time employment.
retrenching
“The federation has noted with serious concern reports suggesting that the government is desirous to retrench workers carrying cleaning work within its employ. We are opposed to the casualisation of labour,” he said.
The SG added that they noted that government had already decided on retrenching a number of employees who were employed to provide cleaning services, which would mean that the move would leave many without jobs.
He said, by so doing, this meant that government would carry out these retrenchments without undergoing the requirements of the Employment Act. He explained that Section 40 of the Employment Act provides that the employer must inform a representative trade union at the contemplation stage of a retrenchment process not when a decision has been made.
The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), which represents cleaners, has also reacted with shock to the decision.
President Oscar Nkambule said they were startled by the move. He said they were not aware of the decision but promised to launch an investigation.
Meanwhile, Gina said the move to outsource cleaning services was a promotion of labour brokers and selling of worker power for some individual’s profits.
“Labour brokerage and outsourcing is modern day slavery.
resolution
The fruits of the labour of the workers are enjoyed by some strategically positioned individuals who are organised by the principal employers to feed on the retrenched workers,” he said. Gina said labour brokers were known for infringing on workers’ rights.
The federation said it had called upon government numerous times to get rid of labour brokers.
“One of the demands of the federation submitted for resolution by the government is that of the prohibition of casualisation of labour and fixed-term contracts in posts of permanent nature.
“We are calling on the government to reverse its intentions to terminate the services of the workers under this arrangement,” he said. Adding, Gina said history had proven that outsourcing becomes expensive than direct employments and other governments and enterprises in the region were insourcing.
“The Structural Adjustment Programmes which were introduced early in the 90s proved not to be an ideal ‘cost-saving programme’ as it generally resulted to civil strife due to increased levels of poverty,” he concluded.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
