The Government of Eswatini completed the Social Security Inquiry exercise to improve the statistical system and data on social security. The SSI was completed and adopted by the Ministry of Labour & Social Security in July 2023. Information collected with Eswatini Social Security Inquiry Analysis Report and Fiscal Space Analysis report finalised in August 2022
Outcome achieved
The Government of Eswatini completed the Social Security Inquiry exercise to improve the statistical system and data on social security. The SSI was completed and adopted by the Ministry of Labour & Social Security in July 2023. Information collected and compiled during the exercise provided valuable baseline data that is used and cited in the Eswatini National Development Plan 2023/24 – 27/28 and the Second National Voluntary Review Report issued by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. The SSI reveals gender disaggregated data of recipients of various social protection measures such as the old age grant, private and foreign retirement funds, contributory old age pensions, the free primary education programme, and the OVC education grant, among others.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
In the previous biennium (2020-2021) with the support of RBSA the ILO facilitated training on the SSI for 2 social security practitioners – one from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MOLSS) and another from the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) – as well as a government consultant. The focus of training was to orientate the officials on the concept of the ILO’s SSI and on the practical application of the ILO’s Webtool for the filling in of relevant data in the SSI. In August 2022 additional training was provided for the two officers from the MOLSS and the ENPF to highlight the strategic importance of keeping updated social security data. The training emphasized the inclusion of data on migrant workers in all social protection schemes and to ensure that member states are treat equally as national citizens.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
The SSI data reveals gender disaggregated gender of recipients of various social protection measures such as the old age grant, private and foreign retirement funds, contributory old age pensions, the free primary education programme, the OVC education grant, etc.
The components of the National Wellness policy and its implementation plan address gender through its seven policy statements and proposed strategies. Some of the key activities in the implementation plan specifically target persons with disability through an intersectionality approach - and address discrimination based on any grounds such as sex, race, ethnicity, language, religion or belief, political, disability, age or sexual orientation or any other opinion, contravenes such constitutional imperatives.
