How the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has helped build a stronger Eswatini over four decades
| From strengthening labour protections and workplace safety to expanding scholarships, artisan training, rehabilitation services and social security reform, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has become one of the Kingdom’s key institutions for human development. Its story is one of steady growth, institutional reform and a widening commitment to dignity through work. |
When His Majesty King Mswati III ascended the throne in 1986, the institutional landscape that now defines the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was still fragmented, with many of its present-day functions spread across different government portfolios. Labour administration existed, but without the coordinated ministry structure that exists today. Occupational safety and health had not yet been modernised through a dedicated national law, social security reform remained limited, and many systems that now support workers, students, job seekers and persons living with disabilities were either in their infancy or not yet established.
“Its growth has not simply been administrative. It has been about building systems that touch people’s lives directly.”
Skills development opportunities were also more limited. Vocational rehabilitation, for example, initially offered only a narrow training base, while apprenticeship and trade testing had not yet grown into the broader national system seen today. Career guidance platforms, digital scholarship applications, job expos and modern workplace wellness policies were still absent from public service delivery. In many respects, the sector reflected a developing economy still building the institutions needed to protect workers, strengthen industrial harmony, guide skills development and extend social protection.
The Journey of Transformation
Key milestones that changed the world of work in Eswatini
• A dedicated ministry for labour and social security: A major turning point came in 2009 when the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was formally established through Legal Notice No. 25 of 2009. The move brought labour administration, employment protection, skills planning and social security under one roof, giving Eswatini a clearer institutional home for labour governance. Its mandate was later reinforced through Legal Notice No. 189 of 2015, which assigned 17 portfolio responsibilities.
• A stronger legal and policy framework: Over the years, the ministry helped modernise the legal and policy environment governing work and protection. Important milestones include reforms to the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2001, amendments to the Workmen’s Compensation Act in 2022, and the 2025 tabling of the ENPF Conversion Bill aimed at establishing a national pension scheme. The ministry also developed the National Human Resources Development Policy, the National Labour Migration Policy and the National Social Security Policy.
• Advancing decent work and labour harmony: The ministry strengthened industrial relations through codes of good practice, dispute-resolution frameworks and national social dialogue. One of its most notable achievements came in 2021 when Eswatini undertook a voluntary conciliation process between Government and TUCOSWA over labour matters reported to the ILO. Twenty-two complaints were initially brought forward, consolidated into 21, with 15 resolved, five unresolved and one withdrawn.
• Expanding artisan development and apprenticeship training: Through the Directorate of Industrial and Vocational Training, Eswatini has significantly expanded its skilled labour base. From 1986 to date, the directorate has produced 25,079 artisans. Of these, 21,724 were produced through trade testing and 3,355 through apprenticeship training. The number of recognised trades increased to 33, while companies offering apprenticeship training grew to 51.
• Deepening inclusion through vocational rehabilitation: Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Services broadened opportunities for persons living with disabilities. What began with only three trades — carpentry, sewing and leathercraft — expanded to include agriculture, metalwork, printing, commercial studies, electrical work and ICT. Facilities were strengthened at Malkerns, Sidwashini and Nhlangano, while later support included a customised bus, desktops, workshop furniture, vehicles, a tractor, laptops and projectors.
• Opening doors through scholarships and career guidance: Since 1986, the Scholarship Unit has supported a total of 76,239 beneficiaries trained or still being trained at local and external tertiary institutions, with 13,547 forming the current student pool. The system has also become more accessible and more equitable through online applications launched in 2019, a means-based tool introduced in 2022, and an increase in the study loans budget from E361 million to E641 million from 2023 onward. Student living allowances rose from E16,900 to E20,000 in 2025.
• Modern career guidance and labour market alignment: The ministry has sharpened the link between education and employment through the Measurement and Testing Unit. Aptitude tests are now administered across high schools, the Self-Directed Search test has been rolled out nationally, and printing of key tests was automated in 2021. The unit also launched Career Quest, helped establish the National Career Expo, supported the first Persons with Disabilities Job Expo in 2024 and collaborated on the Out-of-School Youth Career Expo in 2025.
• Promoting safer and healthier workplaces: Since the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2001, the country has moved toward a more robust workplace safety regime. Achievements include the establishment of the OSH Department, the country’s first National OSH Profile, a National OSH Policy, a National Workplace Wellness Policy, draft Construction Safety Regulations, COVID-19 Return-to-Work Guidelines, enhanced inspector capacity in radiation protection, and a contribution to international standard-setting on biological hazards in the working environment.
• Laying the foundation for stronger social protection: In 2021, Government adopted a comprehensive National Social Security Policy and Implementation Action Plan to guide reform, including maternity and sickness benefits, unemployment insurance and support for vulnerable groups. A social security inquiry produced baseline data covering both the formal and informal sectors. During COVID-19, Government also established an unemployment relief fund of E25 million, while the ministry developed an Unemployment Benefits Scheme to support laid-off workers.
At a Glance
| Indicator | Milestone |
| Formal establishment of ministry | 2009 |
| Artisans produced since 1986 | 25,079 |
| Trade-testing output | 21,724 |
| Apprenticeship output | 3,355 |
| Recognised trades | 33 |
| Companies offering apprenticeship training | 51 |
| Scholarship beneficiaries since 1986 | 76,239 |
| Current student pool | 13,547 |
| Study loans budget from 2023 | E641 million |
| Student living allowance in 2025 | E20,000 |
| Study loan recoveries over 8 years | E430.2 million |
| COVID-19 unemployment relief fund | E25 million |
The Future We Are Building
As Eswatini celebrates 40 years of His Majesty’s reign, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security stands as a symbol of institutional growth, social justice and human capital development. From labour protection and workplace wellness to artisan development, scholarships, inclusion and social security reform, its journey reflects a country steadily investing in dignity, capability and resilience.
The next chapter points toward stronger social protection, safer workplaces, deeper labour market intelligence and a more skilled, more employable and more inclusive nation.
