02 May 2016

Francistown - based attorney, Mr Morgan Moseki has implored trade unions to unite and advocate for workers rights.

 Speaking during the Labour Day celebrations organised by Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) on Sunday in Francistown, Mr Moseki said it is only through the unity of workers unions that issues that affected the workers could be addressed.

“It is only through one voice that the welfare of the workers can be addressed,” he said. Mr Moseki noted that through unity, the unions could lobby better and better deal with labour laws that they considered unfair. 

He commended the judiciary for being fair when handling labour cases brought before them. 

The chairperson of  BOPEU in the region, Mr Jimson Richard implored workers to desist from considering Labour Day as just a day off from duty but utilise the day to show solidarity and introspect on the achievements and challenges they faced.

Mr Richard said BOPEU would continue to advocate for the redressal of workers grievances at all levels including at the workplaces.

The BOPEU deputy general secretary, Mr Ketlhapeleng Karabo said one of the successes of the union was the ‘successful’ 2015 national elections despite a number of differences, the increased number of branches from 48 to 108 countrywide and the establishment of the union’s college amongst others.

When debating under the topic, ‘Essential services and the right to strike: should workers celebrate democracy’ Mr Moseki who was one of the panelists and representing Botswana Congress Party (BCP) said although Botswana was signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the government continued to come up with legislation that was not in harmony with ILO laws.

This, he said made it difficult for workers to enjoy and celebrate democracy. 

Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, who represented the ruling Botswana Democratic Party said the workers should celebrate both the democracy and independence obtaining in the country because it was through their efforts that the country was what it was today.

He said while debating the topic, it should also be understood that the country had a small fragile economy that needed all parties to play their role in protecting and narturing  it.

Mr Moswaane said the issue of essential services was a sensitive one that needed consultation before any law that dictated who should be included could be finalised.

Mr Edward Tswaipe, who represented the unions said the country’s laws were ambiguous, citing that during the 2011 strike it was not clear whether the health cadre could strike or not.

He said on one hand, the law said it was legal for them to strike while on the hand the same law stated that it was illegal.

Furthermore, he said for a long time  the laws made the formation and registering of labour unions difficult

Mr Tswaipe complained that the government continued to increase the list of cadres in the essential services without any  compensate for taking away their rights to strike.

He indicated that in an ideal situation, when the government considered a service essential, the workers in that cadre should be entitled to some benefits that those not essential did not have.

The theme of the Labour Day was ‘Celebrating Achievements of workers struggles in the wake of the 50^th anniversary of independence’ and BOPEU celebrated the day in collaboration with Botswana Federation of Trade Unions. ENDS