US axes Swazi trade deal over rights abuses

Swaziland’s continuing workers’ rights abuses saw the country stripped of a special trade agreement with the USA last week. President Obama withdrew the country’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) last Thursday. Michael Froman, the US trade representative, explained that the decision was taken in light of Swaziland’s continuing labour rights abuses. […]


July 14, 2014

Swazi union leader finally free

Basil Thwala, legal advisor to the Swaziland Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (STAWU), was released from prison this weekend. ITF affiliate STAWU has been fighting to free Thwala since 2012, when he was arrested and charged on a picket line protest. Swaziland is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies, and has a record […]


April 15, 2014

Press conference Wednesday: ITF mission to Swaziland reports

Swaziland and South Africa-based media are invited to a press conference in Mbabane, Swaziland, on Wednesday to hear the results of a two day fact-finding mission to investigate labour conditions and allegations of severe anti-trade union actions by the Swazi government. The mission has been mounted by the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and comprises […]


February 25, 2014