05 Mar 2015

Mmadinare MP, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, says government needs to shift from operating with retrenchment guidelines and develop a more comprehensive retrenchment policy that will aid in reducing high retrenchment cases.

Mr Mzwinila was putting his view point across in the 2015/2016 budget debate of the Industrial Court presented by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu. 

Mr Mzwinila said there is need to, “extend the existing retrenchment guidelines and come up with a comprehensive retrenchment policy which will apply across the board to the private sector, government and parastatals,” he said.

He said retrenchment cases are high and the proposed policy will help guide both concerned parties, the employee and the employer and also clearly, outline issues of retrenchment exit package as in what will guide its calculation and other related matters.

For his part Francistown South MP Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said it was expensive to take industrial cases to the Court on the part of the employee for the reason that cases take long to be resolved meanwhile the employee suffers while the employer in question goes on with his business as if nothing happened. 

He called for more resources to capacitate the Industrial Court to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively and speed up cases.

Mr Mmolotsi called for department of Labour to be equipped with legal instruments that will enable it to take measures against employers or any other parties who do not comply and delay labour relations conflict resolutions. 

He said if this development is implemented at this level, more cases will be heard and resolved here without having to go to Industrial Court which causes a backlog of cases and expensive on the part of the employee

Gabane/Mmankgodi MP. Maj. Gen. Pius Mokgware called for department of labour to be strengthened legally to enable it to take measures against employers who do not comply because rights of employees were trampled upon. 

He also called for the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to facilitate formation of trade unions for security guards in the private sector, as well as petrol attendants who frequented labour offices in large numbers seeking to have matters resolved between them and the employer.  

Maj. Gen. Mokgware also called for review of contracted employment in the Defense Force as well as the police to ensure that all benefit accordingly. ENDS