20 Feb 2013

The Commissioner of Labour Ms Rose Sennanyana has appealed to residents of Moshupa to refrain from employing illegal immigrants.

She appealed to the residents during a kgotla meeting addressed by Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Mr Edwin Batshu in Moshupa on Tuesday. She said her department was concerned about Batswana who employed foreigners without permits.

Ms Sennanyana was responding to the residents’ who had complained that foreigners were coming into the country in large numbers looking for minor jobs and running small businesses meant for locals.

The residents added that most of the small businesses like shops and restaurant were operated by foreigners who in the process mistreated and under paid locals working in their businesses. They also requested that Ipelegeng employees should be provided with protective clothing.

Some residents queried that public servants never addressed kgotla meetings to brief them about government programmes and to give them feedback on proposed projects and services assigned to their respective departments. They said the officials only came when they heard that a minister or the President was coming to their area.

However, Ms Sennanyana blamed some Batswana saying they were responsible for harbouring illegal immigrants at their cattle posts and lands. She urged the residents to work hand in hand with labour officials and make permits for foreigners they wished to employ.

She further put the blame on Batswana who front for foreign business people the practice she said was illegal in the country. She explained that foreigners were trading with small scale business licenses they had rented from locals. ENDS