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M– The future in the employment industry seems to have a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.

After making preparations for three years, Jonsson Workwear will finally extend its footprint to Eswatini creating 2 500 jobs in the textile industry.

This is one of the successes and key performance areas of the late former Prime Minister Mandvulo Dlamini’s Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.

Eswatini News can reveal that Jonsson Workwear has doubled the E100 million investments which was announced in 2019 during the elementary stages of the company’s planned investment.

The E200 million investments is expected to account for 0.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The company will settle in one of the largest textile firms region at Nhlangano, where it will manufacture work was for export to African countries. While initial statements had said that the company would bring 2 000 jobs, the number has also increased by 500.

This is according to the Environment Impact Assessment Report compiled by Maphanga Mitchell Associates on behalf of the company. The report now awaits comments and approval before construction work officially resumes. The structure in which the company will work is being built by Microprojects through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, while the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade is the driver of the project.

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While considerations were that the plant would be based at the Matsapha Industrial site, government took a decision to build the factory at Nhlangano as a means to decentralise industries in all the four regions of the country. This, according to the report, is also in the spirit of the National Development Strategy which speaks about poverty reduction through promoting industrial development at peri urban areas.

It will have a floor area of 20 000 metre square, and import pre-dyed fabric and trims to produce finished work wear garments.

“Employing up to 2 500 personnel and fitted with approximately 2 000 sewing machines, the factory will manufacture 200 000 tonnes of workwear per annum, with capacity to increase production to 500 000 tonnes per annum,” the report states.

With the Shiselweni Region said to be having the highest unemployment rate in the country, the factory is expected to bring major improvements.

The factory will be built by M.A Dlamini while Quantic will be the quantity surveyors.

The architect is Elphick Proone Architects and Building Design Group. Eswatini Consulting will be civil and structural engineers.

“Key positive impacts relate to the project objectives of employment creation, wherein job opportunities will reduce poverty, new skills will be transferred thereby adding

value to personal advancement,” the report states.

It is further envisaged that this will add value to the promotion of the country as a preferred destination for investment.It was said that one of the key aspects of the project was availing employment opportunities for women and local residents.

“The recruitment process will ensure the inclusion of women during both implementation and operation, thereby promoting social transformation towards gender parity in the workplace and community,” the report states.

Neighbouring communities to benefit from the project include Simemeni, Masibini, Dlovunga, Vusweni and Mbilaneni Royal kraals. The project site is Swazi Nation Land administered by KaMzizi Royal Kraal.