Eswatini gives illegal foreign businesses 12 months to leave
Summary
Eswatini’s Parliament agreed that foreign business owners should get at least 12 months to leave under a new citizen economic empowerment law. The timeline may not bind the trade ministry unless lawmakers formally amend the law, and inspections and closures have already begun.Key Facts
- The Citizen Economic Empowerment Act aims to increase emaSwati ownership and participation in the economy.
- Local traders have said foreign-owned businesses compete with them and threaten their livelihoods.
- Trade ministry officials had begun closing some Asian-owned shops, according to MP Welcome Dlamini.
- MPs disagreed over whether foreign business owners should leave immediately or have time to train local successors.
- The trade ministry began inspecting businesses in August; some inspected shops were found to comply with the rules.
- Inspections also raised concerns about working conditions, including days off, annual leave and overtime; at least one case remains under investigation.
- The article says about 70% of Eswatini’s population lives below the poverty line.
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