06 Mar 2013

A draft report,  which outlines policy options on the proposed national broad-based occupational pension scheme has been produced.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Mr Shaw Kgathi, on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs told Parliament on March 5, that the ILO experts were analysing data collected in Botswana with a view to come up with preliminary actuarial calculations.

Mr Kgathi said the results of such analysis would assist in determining, which legislation to review or enact and how. He said a task force to facilitate establishment of the national broad-based occupation pension scheme was formed in 2009.

The minister told the house that the task force held several consultative meetings in 2009/10 to gather information on the possible options and design of the proposed pension scheme.

The task force, he said, comprised of officials from the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Directorate of Public Service Management, Department of Social Services, Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF), Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM).

He said following the signing of Botswana Decent Work Country Programme in February 2011, technical assistance was sought from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to facilitate the design of the scheme.

He however said subsequently, an ILO social security expert was appointed to carry out the design and financing models for the proposed pension scheme. Parliament heard that the expert held meetings with various stakeholders including the Statistics Botswana, Non-Bank Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, BOCCIM, BFTU and BPOPF.

MP for Chobe, Mr Gibson Nshimwe had asked the Labour and Home Affairs minister to state progress made in drafting legislation regarding the implementation of the National Pension Fund following the motion adopted during the 9th Parliament. ENDS