The Ministry of Labour and Social Security in association with International Organisation for Migration (IOM)  and Swaziland Migrant Mineworkers Association (SWAMMIWA) hosted a Policy Dialogue on TB, Silicosis, HIV, Portability of Social Security Benefits and Compensations, with the objective to convene various government partners and relevant organizations to discuss and share lessons how to effectively address the national complex problem on TB in the Mines and social security benefits (including compensations) in Swaziland.

Held on 8 – 10 July 2015 in Ezulwini, Swaziland, the workshop saw the congregation of senior officials representing the Swaziland government, international organizations, domestic organizations, and private sector partners, engage in a dialogue aimed at creating a supportive policy environment by identifying policy gaps for responding to Labour Migration, Health and Social Security Benefits concerns and public health needs for the mine workers and their families.

Graced by the presence of Honourable Winnie Magagula, Minister of Labour and Social Security, who expressed commitment from her Ministry and pledged to escalate recommendations made from the workshop for further deliberations, the workshop was deemed successful and as an important step in paving way for further policy discussions relating to the well-being of  migrant mineworkers, ex-mineworkers, and their families.

Tremendous emphasis was placed on the great need for strengthening synergies between governments and relevant partners in finding and implementing of solutions. The following recommendations were collectively made and recognized as key focus areas towards influencing policy framework development relating to health and social security in the mining sector.

1. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland and other stakeholders should establish a central coordinating mechanism to address the challenge of incoherencies and lack of synergy among the various actors interested and mandated to manage policy, mechanisms and procedures for claims, payments and reporting of social security benefits and compensation benefits.
2. Delegates recognized that the challenges which face migrant mineworkers and ex-mineworkers are real and deserve the attention of government and all concerned stakeholders, especially the governments of the respective countries. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the kingdom of Swaziland was, therefore, urged to pay attention to its responsibility in addressing the issues pertaining.
3. In accordance with governments’ constitutional mandates the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, must at a Ministerial and Executive level, institute a mechanism that mandated to liaise with the South African Government compensation agencies to expedite claims payments for ex-migrant mineworkers.
4. Delegate noted the urgent need for all the stakeholders to trace, find, medically examine, diagnose, treat and compensate all the affected ex-migrant mineworkers as appropriate.

IOM acknowledges the commitments made by members of the Swaziland government and various partners including, the Swaziland Migrant Mineworkers Association (SWAMMIWA) and the Southern African Miners Association (SAMA).