Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions


The Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) was a national trade union center in Swaziland (since 2018 renamed to Eswatini). It was founded in 1983 and dissolved into the Trade Union Congress of Eswatini (TUCOSWA) in 2012.

SFTU
Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions
Founded1973
Dissolved2012
HeadquartersManzini, Eswatini
Location
  • Swaziland (since 2018 renamed to Eswatini)
Members
40,000
Key people
Barnes Dlamini, president
AffiliationsITUC

The SFTU was involved in the campaign to win democratic and pluralist reforms in Swaziland, as well as the removal of restrictive labour legislation.

Members of the SFTU faced considerable opposition. In 1995, general secretary at the time, Jan Sithole was threatened with deportation, and later kidnapped and abandoned in the boot of a car. In 2002, he was publicly threatened by a Swazi senator and government delegate to the International Labour Organization.

The death of Mxolisi Mbata, treasurer of the SFTU, was attributed to injuries he incurred as a result of a beating received from police after they broke up an SFTU general council meeting.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) was an outspoken and active supporter of the SFTU.

The SFTU was affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

Affiliates

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There were 21 trade unions affiliated to the SFTU.

References

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  • ICTUR; et al., eds. (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 0-9543811-5-7.
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