05 Dec 2024

The Department of Broadcasting has employed 314 freelancers nationwide, all of whom work part-time and not in temporary positions.

Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa informed Parliament on Wednesday that the move aimed to decongest content on Botswana Television, leading to the establishment of two additional channels, Btv1 and Btv 2.

The minister stated that freelancers were first utilised by the department in the 1980s during the commissioning of RB2 adding that in 2022, freelancing opportunities were expanded to television.

They performed a variety of tasks, including studio announcements at RB2, news reading at RB1, and news anchoring and programme presentation at Btv news, Btv 1, and Btv 2, Minister Mohwasa said and further noted that they also took on operational roles such as camera work, technical directing and sound and lighting operation.

“The longest-serving freelancers at RB2 have been with the organisation for part-time service durations of 20, 16, 15 and 13 years while the longest serving freelancer for television had been employed for more than five years,” said Mr Mohwasa.

He said most freelancers were not inclined toward full time employment because the starting salary for degree holders was a minimum of P10 591 per month, whereas freelancers earned between P6 000 and P16 000.

The minister admitted knowing about those who wished to be employed on full time basis but stated that there currently were no vacancies.

Freelancers work fewer hours each day, allowing them the opportunity to take on multiple jobs which can be more rewarding than full time employment, Mr Mohwasa said and explained that in the past, the department had considered absorbing freelancers into full time roles, but they declined preferring the more rewarding part time arrangement.

He added that no freelancers were currently owed any payments, further explaining that freelancing did not include extra benefits such as severance pay.

Minister Mohwasa also stated that his office was in receipt of a letter from freelancers regarding their welfare issues and would look into issues raised and arrange for a meeting with freelancers and other portfolios at the Mass Media complex.

Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister to brief the House on the state of temporary and freelance workers in the Department of Broadcasting Services and the Department of Information Services. 

He wanted to know the total number of temporary and freelance workers in the departments, how long they had been engaged individually and if there were any plans to absorb them on permanent basis.

He further wanted to know if any of them were owed wages or benefits and the mitigating factors in place to prevent such occurrences in future. Ends