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Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Eswatini (RATIFICATION: 1981)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, in particular the adoption of the Regulation of Wages (Textile and Apparel Industry) Order, 2004, which sets minimum weekly wage rates for all persons employed in that sector. It also notes the Government’s statement that the Industrial Relations Bill has been approved by the national Parliament and is due to be enacted shortly. Moreover, the Committee understands that a draft Employment Bill has been recently prepared with the assistance of the International Labour Office and will be submitted to the Labour Advisory Board for discussion. 

While recalling that the Government has not supplied detailed information on the practical application of the Convention since 1997, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide in its next report full particulars (including copies of relevant legal texts) on the number of wages councils currently in operation, the approximate number of wage earners covered by wages regulation orders, the minimum wage rates in force in the different industries, the criteria and method used for their annual review and adjustment, any collective agreements containing minimum wage provisions, and available statistics on the supervision and enforcement of the minimum wage legislation. The Committee would also appreciate receiving copies of any recent studies, official reports or other background documents addressing minimum wage issues, especially the incidence of minimum wages on poverty reduction and employment as well as the adequacy of existing minimum wage levels to ensure decent living standards for the workers and their families. Finally, the Committee requests the Government to communicate copies of the abovementioned Bills as soon as they are finalized or entered into force.