End 'Slave Wages' - Swazi MPs

southern africa | workplace struggles | non-anarchist press Monday June 23, 2008 16:44 by Swazi Media Commentary

Swaziland’s MPs have endorsed a move to increase the ‘slave wages’ paid to textile workers in the kingdom. Wages in the textile industry in Swaziland have not increased since 2004, the Swazi Parliament was told.

The news comes after textiles workers went on strike to demand better living conditions. The strike, although perfectly legal, was met with brutality by the police. The workers’ trade union is presently suing the police for damages. 4 june

The Swazi Observer reported yesterday (20 June 2008) that Swazi members of parliament have endorsed a resolution to have textile workers’ wages reviewed annually.

The Observer reported that MPs were told that ‘the cost of living was soaring by the day.’

The newspaper reported, ‘Kwaluseni MP Sibusisio Nkambule described the remuneration paid to textile workers as “slave wages” calling for improvements of these immediately.’

I have already reported that wages are so low in the textile industry that workers have to live six people to a room and sleep three to a bed in order to survive.

Textile workers said some women had to resort to prostitution in order to get by on the low wages they were paid.

Meanwhile, the Weekend Observer today (21 June 2008) carries an interview with one of the textiles workers who was shot by the police during the strike.

Nhlanhla Nkambule, who still has a bullet lodged in his thigh, says, ‘I wish I could die than to endure such suffering.’

Although Nkambule can hardly stand or walk, he has had to return to work in order to pay for food for his family.

The Weekend Observer reports, ‘He said he voted for the strike for one reason only, to see an improvement in his salary so he could better manage his family.

The newspaper reports Nkambule saying, ‘I went on strike because I wanted money to feed my children but now I have turned their enemy because I cannot provide for them..’

Nkambule said he wanted to know why the police went on the rampage and attacked the textile workers who were engaged in a legal strike.

He told the newspaper, ‘I still need an explanation because we were engaging in a legal industrial action.’

He added, ‘If police reacted so harshly during a legal strike, how many could have been killed if it were an illegal strike?’

The Weekend Observer reported, ‘He said there was no way the police could justify such brutality because strikers were peaceful and orderly. “The union leadership would warn us against violence because that could cost them heavy penalties according to the Industrial Relations Act as amended,” he said.

‘Nkambule has been living with the bul­let since 14 March 14 2008 after he was alleged­ly short at close range by a police officer who first cast all sorts of expletives at him before pulling the trigger.

‘“I cannot forget that day. I learnt that life depends on the mercy of the police,” he said.

‘Explaining, Nkambule said he and col­leagues were just minding their own business near Texray when police pounced on them and fired teargas canisters.

‘“We ran in all directions as the police pur­sued us,’ he recalled, mentioning that he ran along a narrow passage between two factories where he came across a woman with a nerve racking gun shot on the back.

‘“I realise police were at war,” said. Nkambule added that he was inside a certain “container” near Sigodvweni where he and others had sought refuge only to be ordered out a few seconds later.

‘He said if the intension was to effect arrests, that was the place to do it, but alleged that the police ordered them to vacate the con­tainer before letting a hail of bullets off as they all tried to force their way out of the gate.’

See also BATTERED WORKERS SUE SWAZI POLICE