Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Eswatini (Ratification: 1992)

Article 2 of the Convention. Consideration of the latest standards and guidelines. The Committee notes with interest the detailed report provided by the Government in response to its previous request. In particular, it acknowledges the Government’s indication that the obligations in respect of Articles 7, 8, 10 and 12–15 of the Convention have been accepted and are fully implemented in the course of collecting, compiling and publishing statistics on the economically active population. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that the Government has not submitted its responses to the Annual Questionnaire transmitted by the ILO Department of Statistics (ILOSTAT) for 2021, 2023 and 2024. The Committee therefore invites the Government to provide regular responses to the questionnaire so that the statistics covered under Articles 11, 14 and 15 of the Convention may be updated on the ILOSTAT webpage in a timely manner.

Articles 7 and 8. Statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment. Structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government through its most recent Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted in 2021. It notes that, while the LFS in Eswatini is carried out every three years, the LFS for 2019 was postponed to 2021. The Government reports that the key findings of the 2021 LFS can be accessed through either the website of the National Employment Statistics Unit or the Central Statistics Office. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government concerning the most recent population census conducted in 2017, noting that the next census is planned for 2027. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the collection, compilation and analysis of data on the economically active population uses the same concepts and definitions as those utilized in the LFS. The Government adds that a module of standardized employment questions is included in the population census questionnaire. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information in respect of the data collected, as well as the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used in carrying out the Labour Force Surveys, including the 2021 Survey. It further requests the Government to provide information in relation to the next Labour Force Survey planned, including in relation to the statistical data collected on the economically active population, employment, unemployment and, if available, underemployment, as well as methodological data. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information with respect to its plans for the population census scheduled to take place in 2027. Lastly, the Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in 2013, as well as in relation to the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships adopted by the 20th ICLS (2018) and the Resolution concerning statistics on the informal economy (2023).

Article 10. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the 2019 Employment and Wages Survey, including the summary of the key findings provided. It takes particular note of the information provided under section 4 of the Survey on Earnings in relation to median hourly earnings by industry and institutional sector. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that data processing is still underway and that the full report of the Survey will be provided following its completion. Lastly, the Committee notes the information provided in respect of the 2021 Employer and Wages Survey Quarterly Questionnaire carried out through the Labour Market Information System. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed updated information on the application of Article 10, as well as to submit all relevant data together with methodological information, including a detailed description of the sources, concepts and definitions utilized in the collection, compilation and analysis of the statistics.

Article 12. Consumer price indices. The Committee notes the information provided with respect to the collection of data on consumer price indices, particularly the Government’s indication that all relevant stakeholders, including employers and workers, are engaged in the review of concepts, methodology and definitions utilized. The Committee recalls that, since 2015, all national consumer price series indices are updated and disseminated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through its website, and that the ILO takes consumer prices index data directly from the IMF web page. The Committee notes that the last available data for Eswatini concerns 2020. The Committee therefore encourages the Government to seek to ensure regular reporting of statistics on consumer price indices to the IMF, together with the description of sources, concepts and definitions utilized.

Article 14. Statistics on occupational injuries, accidents and diseases. The Government indicates that no updated statistics have been published on occupational injuries and diseases since it submitted its prior report in 2016. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that the Government report includes certain data on occupational injuries, reflecting that, during the reporting period, there were a total of: 539 work-related accident injury reports submitted; 98 work-related accident injuries were processed; and 30 work-related injuries were compensated. The Government estimates the monetary value of the work-related injuries at 1,986,889.25 Swazi emalangeni. According to the report, information on occupational injury statistics is sourced from the report of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of 2021–22. In addition, the Committee notes that data on non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses were also submitted to the Office through the 2021 integrated LFS. Recalling the decision of the International Labour Conference at its 110th Session in June 2022 to include a “safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work under paragraph 2 of the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated statistical data on occupational injuries, accidents and diseases, together with a description of sources, concepts and definitions utilized in the collection, compilation and analysis of such statistics through the Annual Questionnaire of the ILO Department of Statistics.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in respect of the application of Article 15. In particular, it notes the report of the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) for 2020–21, as well as the statistical data submitted on the activities carried out by the CMAC. It notes that the CMAC report provides information on the number of cases resolved through conciliation and arbitration procedures (both resolved and unresolved cases), as well as information regarding types of disputes and the numbers of disputes per category. The Committee recalls that Article 15 calls on Governments to provide statistics of industrial disputes in such a manner as to be representative of the country as a whole, covering all branches of economic activity, where possible. It draws the attention of the Government to the Resolution concerning statistics of strikes, lockouts and other action due to labour disputes, adopted by the 15th ICLS in 1993, which provides that information in this regard and where possible, should be collected with respect to the number of strikes and lockouts; the number of workers involved in strikes or lockouts; the duration of strikes or lockouts; the amount of time not worked by workers involved in strikes or lockouts; and other important characteristics relevant to the labour disputes. The Committee notes that data on strikes and lockouts has been received through the ILOSTAT Annual Questionnaire, with the most recent data referring to 2019. The Committee therefore requests the Government to continue to submit statistical data relevant to the application of Article 15 of the Convention through the ILOSTAT Annual Questionnaire. It notes that technical assistance is available upon request through the ILO Department of Statistics with respect to the compilation, analysis and publication of statistical data relevant to industrial disputes, should the Government so wish.