Times Of Swaziland: IT’S UNFAIR – TUCOSWA

IT’S UNFAIR – TUCOSWA
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Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 29/05/2024 10:35:00


MBABANE – “Civil servants cannot be penalised or discriminated against on
the basis of their political affiliation.”
This was said by TUCOSWA Secretary General (SG) Mduduzi Gina, following the
Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Simanga Mamba’s comments that they
would deal with government employees who are pushing a political agenda. TUCOSWA
is an acronym for Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.
Unfair
Gina said this was unfair and could result in serious unfair labour practices on
the part of government, to penalise workers merely on the basis of their
political affiliation. According to Gina, by nature, civil servants worked for
the political system. The SG wondered why civil servants were to be disciplined
just because they believed in a different administration of the State. He made
an example of teachers, saying they taught learners about the country’s
political system. He said these teachers even went beyond the call of duty to
promote the system.
Gina said government needed to respect the fact that the issue of freedom of
association was a fundamental right that was enshrined in the Bill of Rights,
which is in the Constitution.
The SG said the Bill of Rights had not excluded anyone from exercising that
right.
Gina said he disagreed with the fact that workers could be punished on the basis
of their political alliance and not work performance, as such would be against
the Constitution. Such, he said would be against a number of conventions of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), specifically Convention 87. According
to the convention, parties to the convention are obliged to ensure the right of
both employers and employees to join an organisation of their choice and free
from any influence of authorities, which belongs to the core principles.
Discriminated
“Workers cannot be discriminated in any manner whatsoever on the basis of
their political affiliation,” Gina said. The SG said workers could only be
judged on the basis of their failure to perform, irrespective of whatever
reason. Meanwhile, Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) SG, Lot
Vilakati, said for now, their name had not been singled out, hence they would
not delve much into the issue. Vilakati said should the CSC chair mention the
name ‘teacher’, they would get closer to him. He said CSC and the Teaching
Service Commission (TSC) were recruiting agents of the Ministry of Public
Service. Vilakati said the ministry was the employer and not the recruiting
agent, hence they could never be above the former. “It is the ministry that
can address us and not the recruiting agents.”
Vilakati said civil servants could not divorce politics as it was part of them,
adding that once employed, they dealt with trade union politics. He said Mamba
should explain the politics he was talking about. “Last year, they were
encouraging people to participate in politics of the country.” Vilakati said
they would only comment on trade union politics and not any other.