NGO criticised for advertising unpaid skilled roles in Eswatini
Eswatini's coordinating body for NGOs has warned against exploiting unemployed graduates through unpaid positions.
An NGO in Eswatini has come under fire for advertising unpaid volunteer positions that require specialised medical qualifications and professional skills. The advertisement offered roles in critical care, emergency care, medical data and research, and has raised questions about whether NGOs are taking advantage of unemployed graduates.
The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO), an umbrella body for more than 70 NGOs, has warned against exploiting graduates through unpaid positions. Its executive director, Thembinkosi Dlamini, said organisations often cite a lack of funding for unpaid roles, but he expressed concern that some volunteers were expected to work beyond agreed hours and duties without clear pay arrangements.
Dlamini said genuine volunteer programmes should have clear agreements that define responsibilities and separate volunteer roles from those of permanent employees. He said CANGO opposes exploitation in the workplace, and that the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act mainly cover formal employer-employee relationships.