02 May 2024

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi has reiterated government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.

Minister Mokgethi, who was speaking at International Labour Day commemoration  organised by the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and Botswana Federations of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) in Tsabong on May 1, said government had embraced collective bargaining in the public service although there were delays to reach a collective agreement for establishing the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC).

She highlighted that government and public sector trade unions continued to meaningfully negotiate salaries and other conditions of service within the public service indicating that the negotiations took place in 2019 and 2022 respectively.

She said as part of the implementation of collective labour agreements entered into with the public sector trade unions, government recently adjusted public service employees’ salaries by five per cent across board for the financial year 2024/2025.

The parties, she said, had also jointly drafted the public service human resource policies in line with the Labour Agreement of 2022.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted that in an endeavour to review public service salary structure in line with the 2022 Labour Agreement, the government in consultation with trade unions, engaged a consultant to develop the ‘Fan Shape’ salary structure, adding that the draft structure was in place awaiting the parties to conclude outstanding matters.

She divulged that negotiations between the employer and five cooperating unions on the economic outlook review of the financial year 2024/2025 was on the table and expected to be concluded soon. She buttressed that for the economy to yield descent jobs, there must be a meaningful dialogue and proper representation of constituencies for continued improvement of conditions of service.

“I assure you and reiterate government’s commitment to the welfare of workers in this country,” she said. Speaking to the theme: Decent Jobs for Just Transition’ the minister said it came at a time when government’s priority area was to stimulate the private sector to create jobs.

“Whilst we look forward to creating conducive environment for private enterprises, workers’ rights should be firmly protected,” she emphasised. She underscored that labour movement was a critical partner in development, thus she encouraged unions to be more productive, be free of corruption and participate meaningfully in government policy formulation and implementation, assist and guide each other and be the federations of choice.

She highlighted that Botswana joined the global coalition for social justice initiative, which brought stakeholders together to deal with social justice deficits, address social justice gaps and advance together towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the decent work agenda.

She appreciated that the labour sector with 63 registered trade unions, two trade union federations and one employee organisation, had made significant strides to bring labour laws into conformity with the international standards with the view to progress the decent work agenda.

She said workers shall have what they have long advocated for - the ‘right to strike’, adding that a Constitutional Amendment Bill had been published in the Government Gazette after which the Bill would be debated in Parliament on May 20.

She said the Bill included granting employees the right to strike. The Employment and Labour Relations Bill would be tabled in the next Parliament sitting to respond to workers’ challenges especially those in the private sector.

The Bill grants the Commissioner of Labour the right to establish industrial councils of different sectors, adding that private sector employees would also have such councils, where employers and employees would meet and draw agreements before going on strike or going to court.

For his part, a representative from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Just Transition national project coordinator, Ms Onneetse Makhumalo said the theme spoke to environment conservation, which must go hand in hand with workers’ rights.

She said workers depended on the environment and the effects of climate change affected them thus it was critical to balance the economic, social and environmental aspects to be able to have a sustainable environment.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Samuel Brooks said it was important to work together as unions at regional level to collectively influence Bills passed by Parliament. He encouraged government employees to implement newly launched government programmes and policies. ENDS