MBABANE – After years of uncertainty, the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Five-Star Hotel (FISH) in Ezulwini appear finally poised to commence operations.
Constructed over a decade ago and previously branded a ‘white elephant’, the facilities are now on the cusp of yielding returns. This growing optimism was validated yesterday when the new operator, Palazzo, held walk-in interviews, attracting more than 1 000 job seekers. The interviews took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane.
A total of 50 vacancies had been advertised, with positions specifically based at the Palazzo Ezulwini International Convention Centre.
The influx of aspiring applicants made it difficult for motorists to navigate the streets leading to the Hilton Garden Inn and KFC, as many young men and women crowded the roads, impeding traffic.
Interviews were expected to commence at 2:30pm and conclude by 5pm.
Some candidates had travelled from as far afield as Lavumisa and Matsamo, with several arriving at the venue as early as 10am. Others, already in employment, were seeking new opportunities.
Inside the hotel, members of the recruitment team were on hand to receive CVs and resumes, with another queue forming indoors. Notably, there were fewer than 10 interviewers. The advert had stipulated a formal dress code, specifically business attire.
Vacancies included:
- Engineering supervisor
- Technician
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Carpenter
- Administration assistant
- Purchase officer
- Chefs
- Marketing coordinator
- Accounting
- Housekeeping supervisor
- IT managers/officer
- Receptionist
- ICC Call Centre
One hopeful, Siphiwe Dlamini from Nhlangano, expressed her determination despite the large turnout.
“I never look at the crowd, I look at myself,” she said.
She was nevertheless uncertain whether she would meet the recruitment team, given the length of the queue.
Themba Nkambule (40), from Motshane, stated he had never been formally employed: “I have been doing some odd jobs, getting something to buy bread, but I have never been employed on a temporary or permanent basis,” Nkambule said.He has three children.
There were many hopefuls who requested that we respect their privacy as they did not want their current employers to know that they are looking for new employment. There were a few job seekers above the age of 50.
“I am here to try my luck after quitting work in 2008,” said one man on condition of anonymity.
Huge turnout stuns recruiters
Government has so far spent a sum of E4 014 980 000 on the construction of ICC and E2 306 505 000 on FISH.
In the current financial year, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development requested for additional funding for interior works and professional services, including payment for VAT and CIC (Construction Industry Council) levy.
The recruiters said they did not have time to talk to the media but one of them said they had not anticipated such a huge turnout.
Not too long ago, crowds of job seekers gathered at a factory in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa after a notice for employment was posted, prompting the police to be called to manage the situation.
The influx of people was reportedly due to high unemployment rates in the region, with a local community leader noting that such large numbers are common when job opportunities arise in an area with limited employment.
There were no police at Hilton at around 3pm, but security was able to control the crowd.
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Youth unemployment high and concerning, according to study
MBABANE – The youth unemployment is a cause for concern as highlighted in the Integrated Labour Force Survey (ILFS).
The latest findings from the 2023 Integrated Labour Force Survey (ILFS) paint a sobering picture for the youth in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
It highlights persistently high levels of unemployment and labour underutilisation among those aged 15-35 years.
According to the report, the situation is particularly acute among females and rural dwellers, with regional disparities compounding the challenges faced by Eswatini’s emerging workforce.
The Minister for Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi launched the report in May this year at SibaneSami Hotel in Ezulwini.
The report revealed that the national youth (ages 15-35) unemployment rate currently stands at 48.7 per cent.
The rate is higher among females at 52.1 per cent compared to 44.7 per cent among their male counterparts.
Geographical disparities are equally pronounced. As stated in the report, the Shiselweni Region registers the highest youth unemployment rate at 59.9 per cent, while the Manzini Region fares relatively better at 40.4 per cent.
This pattern mirrors that of female unemployment specifically, with Shiselweni again emerging as the hardest-hit. For male youth, unemployment peaks in Shiselweni but is lowest in the Lubombo Region.
A marked urban-rural divide further characterises the youth employment landscape. Rural areas face a higher youth unemployment rate of 54.5 per cent, compared to just 36.9 per cent in urban areas.
This rural disadvantage persists across both sexes.
Delving deeper into the youth experience using the United Nations’ definition (ages 15-24), the situation is even more concerning.
Nationally, unemployment in this younger cohort is at 56 per cent, with the rate for females reaching 60.1 per cent and males at 51.9 per cent. According to the report, this indicates that the prospects facing young women are disproportionately bleak.
Examining the underlying demographic, Eswatini’s 15-24 population stands at 235 724, slightly more than half of whom (50.1 per cent) are female.
However, labour force participation remains low, with just 27.1 per cent actively engaged in the labour market. The youth employment-to-population ratio (absorption rate) is only 11.9 per cent, up marginally from 10.1 per cent in 2021. Females are less likely to be absorbed into employment (10.9 per cent), compared to their male peers (13 per cent).
The report highlights the prevalence of informal employment among youth. The informal rate stands at 80.7 per cent, with female youth experiencing slightly higher rates than males. In a telling detail, all employed youth serving as clerical support workers are found to be working informally.
The Manzini Region, while having a lower overall youth unemployment rate compared to Shiselweni, paradoxically houses the highest number of unemployed youth (ages 15-24). This is due to its larger youth population.
Conversely, Lubombo hosts the smallest at 18.7 per cent of the youth population.
Youth in rural areas are particularly disadvantaged, with a rural youth unemployment rate significantly above the urban rate.
*Full article available in our publication.
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