Titusinder af arbejdere i Swaziland risikerer at miste deres job, hvis USA gør alvor af truslen om at smække den toldfri kasse i. De demokratiske fremskridt i Swaziland halter, mener USA. Men aftalen udgør en økonomisk livline for det fattige land.
MBABANE, 17 June 2014 (IRIN): The threat of Swaziland being suspended from a US preferential trade agreement for poor progress in meeting democratic norms is threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of worker in a country where unemployment is already above 40 percent.
The 2000 African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) offers developing countries duty-free access to some US markets, with the strict proviso that their governments show progress on enhancing democracy and human rights and upholding fair labour practices.
AGOA and the absolutists
Often referred to as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolutist monarch, the powers and prerogatives enjoyed by King Mswati III and the conduct of his government are jeopardising Swaziland’s membership of AGOA.
In recent months, the authorities in Mbabane have faced increasing criticism from human rights organisations, with security forces accused of breaking up political marches and journalists and pro-democracy activists being arrested and put on trial.
A recent open letter to King Mswati signed by Nobel Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, universities and NGOs, noted “a disregard for legal procedures and basic human rights” and warned of “lasting damage to your country’s standing with potential international investors and ….economic and political isolation,” if there was not change and dialogue.
Warnings from Washington
The US has issued a series of warnings, setting a deadline of 15 May, by which time Swaziland was meant to have met several key conditions.
These included amendment of the Industrial Relations Act, allowing for the registration of trade union and employer federations and the removal of bans on worker protests.
The US also proposes amendment of the Suppression of Terrorism Act, described by critics as a weapon to harass and detain pro-democracy activists, and amendment of the colonial-era 1963 Public Order Act, used to suppress anti-government dissent.
The US recommends the dissemination and implementation of the Code of Good Practice on Protest and Industrial Action.
Heading a US delegation to Swaziland in April, Deputy Assistant Trade Representative for Africa, Constance Hamilton, said it was up to the Swazi government “to decide whether they want to be part of the AGOA family”, stressing: “it is all about political will.”
US Ambassador to Swaziland Makila James was blunter, hinting at past frustrations and stressing that non-compliance with US recommendations would mean “on January 1, 2015, goods coming into the United States from Swaziland will be assessed duty because there will no longer be a trade preference to allow them duty-free entry.”
IRIN has reliable information that the review process has now ended and an announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
Swaziland’s wilting economy
Læs hele artiklen her: http://www.irinnews.org/report/100227/swaziland-braces-itself-for-agoa-exit
