Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, has called on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to take a more active role in addressing Eswatini’s unemployment crisis, describing joblessness as one of the country’s most urgent national challenges.
Speaking during the launch of the SOE salary review exercise, the Minister said that while Eswatini has made progress in key service delivery areas, unemployment remains a critical weakness undermining economic development.
He cited improvements in electricity access, water provision, road infrastructure and public health responses as examples of government success, but warned that these gains are limited without job creation.
“If people do not have jobs, they cannot afford electricity, water or other basic services,” he said.
Rijkenberg argued that addressing unemployment requires a coordinated national effort involving government, SOEs and the private sector. He said public enterprises are uniquely positioned to support job creation through collaboration, innovation and supply chain development rather than relying solely on direct employment.
The Minister urged SOE leaders to use their proximity to industry and markets to identify opportunities for economic expansion. He challenged executives to develop joint strategies that could unlock new industries and strengthen private sector growth.
“If we work together and think creatively about how we use our resources and partnerships, we can unlock industries and create more jobs for our people,” he said.
Rijkenberg further appealed for stronger collaboration between institutions, encouraging SOEs to contribute ideas and solutions that could help government address unemployment more effectively.