Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Eswatini (Ratification: 1978)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons The Committee takes due note of the adoption of the People Trafficking and Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No. 11 of 2010. Referring to the Government’s report on the application of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), the Committee notes that the Task Force on Prevention of People Trafficking and People Smuggling was formed in March 2010, with a mandate to prevent trafficking in persons through public awareness, protection of victims of trafficking as well as research on trafficking patterns in southern Africa. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that, the office of the Prime Minister established a specific department to deal with issues related to human trafficking and smuggling (secretariat).

The Committee notes, furthermore, that in its concluding observations of 24 July 2014, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) while welcoming the adoption of the People Trafficking and People Smuggling (Prohibition) Act, remains concerned that the State party is a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficked women and girls, mainly for sexual exploitation and domestic labour. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of the People Trafficking and Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No. 11 of 2010, in practice, indicating the measures taken to prevent, suppress, and combat trafficking in persons. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the activities conducted by the Task Force on Prevention of People Trafficking and People Smuggling. Lastly, recalling that, in accordance with Article 25 of the Convention, the exaction of forced labour shall be punished with criminal penalties that are adequately enforced, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the investigations and the judicial proceedings initiated and on convictions that have been pronounced on the basis of the Act of 2010.