The University of Eswatini Consultancy and Training Centre in collaboration with Tive Leadership Centre is hosting the inaugural Post Work Life Planning Conference. The conference is a platform that has been created to close the existing gap in employee preparedness in exiting employment.
Retirement preparedness & existing work, when does it begin?
For many people, retirement is viewed as a distant event that will be dealt with when the time comes. However, life after employment does not begin on the day a person retires.
It begins much earlier and that is through the decisions, preparations, investments and plans made during one’s working life. It is against this background that the University of Eswatini is introducing the Post Work Life Platform. The platform is an important national conversation on preparing individuals and organisations for life beyond formal employment.
The theme of the conference is ‘life after work starts before retirement,’ the platform seeks to encourage a more proactive approach to retirement and post-employment planning. It recognises that retirement is not simply a financial event. It is a major life transition that can affect an individual’s finances, identity, health, relationships, sense of purpose and contribution to society.
The platform brings together employees, employers, financial institutions, retirement and investment experts, government stakeholders, professional bodies and other relevant institutions to engage in meaningful conversations about the future of work and life after work.
Why the platform?
The platform is being hosted because preparing for life after employment requires more than simply contributing to a pension fund. Many people spend decades working, earning an income and supporting their families, but may not have a comprehensive plan for what happens when employment income stops.
Some may not fully understand their retirement benefits, while others may reach retirement without adequate financial resources, alternative income streams, investment knowledge or a clear sense of purpose.
The Post Work Life Platform seeks to address this gap by promoting a culture of early preparation. Its message is very clear: Retirement planning should not begin when retirement is approaching. It should begin while individuals are still working, earning, building wealth and making important life decisions.
The platform focuses on key themes that are critical for retirement and exiting work and that includes: Financial literacy, retirement planning, wealth protection, investment education and purposeful living beyond the office.
The platform seeks to challenge the traditional understanding of retirement. Retirement should not necessarily be viewed as the end of productivity, relevance or contribution. With proper preparation, it can become a new chapter that allows individuals to pursue new opportunities, enterprises, community involvement, mentoring and other meaningful activities.
Invitation for organisations to Participate in the conversation
Organisations and companies across all the economic sectors of Eswatini are invited to attend the conference, and that includes employees that are towards retirement 45 years and above as well as human resource officers and employee wellness champions.
The future well-being of employees is increasingly becoming an important part of responsible organisational leadership. When employees approach retirement without adequate preparation, they may experience many difficulties that includes: Financial stress, uncertainty and anxiety. These challenges can affect not only individuals and their families, but also workplace morale and productivity.
Organisations and companies that encourage employees to prepare for life beyond work demonstrate that they value their people beyond their years of service. Participation in the post work life platform is encouraged to form part of a broader employee wellness, financial wellness and responsible employment strategy in organisations
In attending the conference, organisations and companies will gain knowledge that will strengthen their approach to employee well-being and retirement preparedness. They will also benefit from improved employee financial literacy, stronger wellness programmes, better preparation for workforce transitions, succession and reduced uncertainty among employees.
The platform also provides opportunities for networking and knowledge-sharing among employers, financial institutions, experts and other organisations facing similar challenges in preparing their workforce for the future.
A conversation that must begin now
The Post Work Life Platform is based on the understanding that retirement is not only an individual responsibility. It is also an important issue for employers, families, financial institutions, policymakers and society as a whole. The inaugural Post Work Life Planning Conference is taking place on August 12–13, 2026 at Happy Valley Hotel at a fee of E 2 980 per person.
Early bird ticket were E 2 800 and valid until August 4, 2026. Tables of 10 for bigger organisation are available and tables enjoy a 12 per cent discount.
The key objective of the Post Work Life Planning Platform is to begin building a sustained platform for awareness, education, dialogue and action around the future of individuals after formal employment.
For registration and information contact the Conference Secretariat Khetsiwe Dlamini 7863 0823/Dr Zanele Dlamini 7603 7020 or email ctcdir@uneswa.ac.sz
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