22 May 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says government will build more houses for public officers under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Addressing public employees at Lerala JSS on May19, President Khama said government was aware of shortage of accommodation for public officers, hence the intention to build more staff houses.

He said government would also consider building more offices through ESP to ease congestion in offices.

He said it was important for public officers to understand the economic outlook of this country, adding that the country was hit by the global economic recession from 2008 to 2012.

The situation, the President said, became better in 2014 when the economy started showing a positive growth hence the decision to tap into the country’s reserves to undertake ESP projecys.

He said, however, that the economy was likely to be in a short recession, having recorded a negative growth in the last quarter of 2015/2016.

He said some economies of scale such as China, Russia and Brazil had also gone into recession.

He added that neighbouring South Africa’s economy was also experiencing problems, having been estimated to grow by half per cent this year.

He said the Rand was performing weakly against the Pula with the exchange rate standing at R1.40 to a Pula, adding “we too have a problem.”

Touching on public employees’ salary increment, President Khama said the government increased salaries in 2014 with the intention to keep improving public officers’ salaries.

He said if the economy was performing like that in 2014, the intention was to do even better.

He said the government increased salaries by three per cent in April so that inflation does not erase the public employees’ buying power since inflation increased by three per cent.

Lt Gen. Dr Khama said prices of food and other commodities have gone up thus the three per cent increase was meant to cushion public employees against inflation.

He also noted that the bargaining council took longer to bargain hence government’s intention to increase salaries while negotiations were  continuing.

He said three per cent increase did not mean that the bargaining council could not bargain for more.

The President said trade unions took government to court requesting for the three per cent salary increment to be stopped.

“We are still awaiting judgement,” he said.

He called on public officers to talk to their respective trade unions to agree on the three per cent salary increase and bargain for more.

On the issue of overtime, he said government was still looking into the possibility of settling for commuted overtime.

He said DPSM and permanent secretary to the President were still working on it.

However he said overtime needed to be managed, adding that poor management of overtime made it difficult for government to pay overtime. ENDS