Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Eswatini (Ratification: 1978)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. National Action Plan. The Committee notes the Government’s information, in its report, that the Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2019–2023 ended in 2023, but that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Prevention of People Trafficking and People Smuggling has recommended its extension up until 2026. This would allow the Task Force to carry out some activities that were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government further indicates that through its four committees, the Task Force has continued to play a pivotal role in ensuring sectoral coordination and implementation of responsibilities (the Tripartite Committee, the Research Committee, the Prevention Committee, and the Protection Committee). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure the full implementation of the Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons, as well as on any assessment undertaken on its implementation, indicating the results achieved and the difficulties encountered. It further requests the Government to indicate whether a new Action Plan has been developed and, if so, to provide information on its objectives and envisaged outcomes. Finally, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the action taken by the Task Force Committees.

2. Protection and assistance to victims. The Government indicates that the Inter-Agency Task Force is currently reviewing the shelter guidelines, with the aim to identify the different types and needs of the victims to be housed at appropriate shelters (e.g. child-friendly, gender sensitive, medically appropriate shelters, etc.), in application of section 41 of the People Trafficking and Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No. 7 of 2009. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made on reviewing the shelter guidelines, as well as on any other measures taken to ensure that victims of trafficking in persons are properly identified and provided with adequate protection and assistance. It also requests the Government to provide information the number of victims of trafficking who have benefited from such measures.

3. Prosecution and application of penal sanctions. The Government indicates that the office of the Anti-Human Trafficking Secretariat – through the tripartite Committee and other relevant structures – has engaged stakeholders to improve investigations and prosecutions. In this regard, law enforcement and sector-based trainings have been conducted, including with the police and prosecution services, and the Secretariat is training officials on digital trafficking and skills required in combating trafficking in persons. In addition, the Government indicates that the Police carry out roadblocks and other operations to identify possible cases, which has led to the identification of potential cases of trafficking in persons involving 47 potential victims. The Committee also takes note of the information shared by the Government regarding the cases of trafficking identified and prosecuted in previous years, with the successful conviction of perpetrators. The Committee encourages the Government to continue to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement bodies to proactively detect cases of trafficking in persons, for both labour and sexual exploitation, as well as their cooperation to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions. It requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the cases of trafficking identified, as well as on the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions applied under the provisions of the People Trafficking and Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No. 7 of 2009.