Parliament has issued a directive to stop all layoffs at Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), albeit on interim basis.
This comes after Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini successfully moved a motion in the House of Assembly for selection of a seven-member committee to look into reports of downsizing that would have resulted in massive layoffs by EPTC.
The committee, which comprises of former EPTC Head of Marketing and Ngudzeni MP Charles Ndlovu, has been tasked to look into the EPTC’s restructuring exercise and its impact on permanent, contract and temporary employees of the corporation.
The committee has been instructed to also verify allegations of deviation from approved procurement processes.
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“The committee should table its report to the House after 14 days after adoption. EPTC is not allowed to effect changes before the report is presented to Parliament,” read the motion in part.
Dlamini disclosed that the situation at EPTC was worrisome because there were employees who had served at the institution for close to 20 years on renewable contracts much against dictates of the Kingdom’s labour legislation.
The MP went on to submit that the workers were caught between a hard rock and surface because they recently committed themselves to loans after the corporation entered into an agreement with one of the local banks.
However, he said hardly five months down the line they were being laid off which was unfair.
He said as part of the agreement with the lender, the employees were lent loans against their gratuity which effectively meant they would go home with literally nothing at hand.
“Are we saying these people must now go home with nothing at hand to die,” wondered Dlamini.
The MP suggested that EPTC should have offered at least enticing voluntary exit packages for employees above 50 years.
He went on to state that the decision making mechanism applied seemed not to take into consideration the staff’s welfare.
Dlamini said the decisions being taken were similar to an over 60-year-old who has less interest about the organisation’s sustainability but hell-bent to save their job hence the reason why Parliament also recently recommended that employees above 60 years should take their package and leave room for the younger generation to lead.
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The MP further alleged that the leader of EPTC had taken charge of the procurement department which left a lot to be desired as to what his intentions were.
Seconder of the motion, Mtfongwaneni MP Nathi Hlophe wondered what the intention of making staff to take loans and then relieve them from work.
“What is the motive behind this cruelty,” he wondered.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said he was of the idea that every institution should be accountable.
However, he suggested that the motion be passed without the provision for EPTC not to effect any changes before the report gets presented to Parliament. He submitted that EPTC was overburdened with staff.
However, this was strongly objected to by Dlamini who was supported by the August House.
Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Savannah Maziya said there was nothing to hide about what was happening at EPTC.
She disclosed that the ministry had been informed that out of the 210 contracted employees only 30 would be laid- off.
Maziya said the ministry was not aware of the loans issue.
“It would be unfair if the people were not given sufficient time to prepare for their future. We remain open to any form of assistance to ensure self-sustainability of EPTC,” she added.
THE EPTC SEVEN MEMBER COMMITTEE:
Charles Ndlovu
Sicelo Jele
Futhi Ngcamphalala
Prince Mshengu
Welcome Dlamini
Nathi Hlophe
Tsembeni Magongo
