Mbabane – The newly appointed board of the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) has pledged to prioritise the finalisation of the Industrial Relations Bill, which is expected to give the commission greater powers to issue judgments on labour matters.
Returning CMAC board chairperson, Mzwandile Dlamini, said the legislation will be a game changer in improving efficiency and reducing the backlog of cases.
“The country faces a huge problem with delayed judgments that drag on for years, at times leaving emaSwati financially drained and without justice. The bill will empower CMAC to issue judgments faster and prevent many cases from going to labour courts,” he said.
Dlamini assured that the new board would work tirelessly to push the Industrial Relations Bill until it becomes law. He added that some members of the new board served in the previous term and others are active in the labour sector, which gives him confidence in their ability to deliver results.
He also expressed gratitude to the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, for his consistent support and guidance.
“The minister always has his pulse on the deck when it comes to work of the commission. He understands where we are, what we have achieved, and the challenges we face,” Dlamini said. He further commended the minister for swiftly appointing the new board, noting that the previous board’s term ended on 20 September, and by 9 October, a new board was already in place.
Reflecting on the past three years, Dlamini applauded the outgoing board for laying a strong foundation and acknowledged the ministry for increasing CMAC’s subvention, which he said had significantly improved the commission’s operations.
He revealed that during the previous term, CMAC faced several challenges, including credibility issues, poor outreach coverage, and delays in delivering judgments. However, he said notable progress has been made in addressing these concerns. “We have improved our credibility and extended our reach so that emaSwati do not have to travel long distances to access our services,” he said.
Dlamini thanked the minister for allowing the previous board to appoint Executive Director Nomkhosi Dlamini and her management team, noting that their leadership has been instrumental in driving stability and performance. He also praised the minister’s leadership for fostering harmony within the board, adding that there have been no internal conflicts or public scandals.
Looking ahead, Dlamini said the new board will focus on signing its “marching orders” and formulating a strategy to strengthen service delivery. Priorities will include ensuring judgments are delivered on time through the recruitment and capacitation of more labour commissioners, continuing the decentralisation rollout, and investing in IT infrastructure to allow emaSwati to access CMAC services online.
He emphasised that the commission’s long-term goal is to ensure that all workers in Eswatini have access to efficient, fair, and timely labour justice.
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