Mbabane– The Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi has admitted that an inspection at The Luke Commission (TLC) uncovered labour-related issues that were not in order, amid mounting complaints about working conditions at the healthcare institution.
Buthelezi said his ministry had conducted an inspection at TLC after receiving complaints and had since received the inspectors’ report.Speaking in an interview with Kingdom Online Network earlier this month, the minister confirmed that the inspection had uncovered problems at the institution.
“The team went to do an inspection at TLC. We have received the report. There are things that are not going well there,” Buthelezi noted.The admission is significant as it comes amid an escalating dispute involving former TLC employees, who have raised a number of complaints about their experiences at the organization.
In July, former TLC employees petitioned Parliament, representing about 80 other former workers, and called for an investigation into what they described as unfair labour practices. Their complaints included alleged unfair employment conditions, while they also raised questions about the management of public and donor funds and patient billing practices. ([Times of Eswatini][1])
The labour concerns have been mounting for months. Earlier reports detailed allegations from current and former employees concerning short-term contracts, long working hours, low wages and alleged violations of labour laws.
In July, TLC also became embroiled in a High Court matter involving former employees and their lawyer after the organization sought to stop the publication of allegations it said were damaging to its reputation. Among the allegations contained in court papers were claims relating to working hours, overtime, employment contracts and the handling of labour grievances. TLC has disputed the allegations.
The minister said the government-TLC memorandum of understanding was explicit about the organization’s obligation to comply with the country’s labour laws.
He noted that failure to meet those obligations could have result to the agreement between government and TLC not been revoked. Buthelezi said government had insisted that the agreement would have to be respected because of the complaints received by his office.
The issue is particularly significant given the extent of government’s financial involvement with TLC. The institution received E50 million in government support during the 2025/26 financial year, with the allocation forming part of a broader government partnership with the healthcare provider. TLC has maintained that the funding was approved through Parliament and governed by a formal agreement.
The controversy intensified in August when former TLC employees approached Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini with further allegations concerning labour practices, workplace treatment, governance, clinical operations and patient care. Government subsequently said the allegations would be subjected to due process and investigated by the relevant authorities.
Discussion about this post