16 May 2016

SADC countries should come up with programmes to diversify their economies and ensure job creation, according to Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the SADC employment and labour sector meeting of ministers and social partners in Gaborone recently, he said without comprehensive and effective plan to diversify the economy, the SADC region would succumb under the weight of unemployment.

Mr Batshu said the SADC mandate was to provide a framework for regional cooperation and integration in the area of employment and labour through development, harmonisation and coordination of employment and labour policies strategies and programmes.

He further highlighted that the SADC employment and labour sector promoted and upheld the principles and spirit of tripartism and social dialogue.

The minister stated that in pursuit of this mandate, they would discuss the Draft SADC Policy Framework on Portability of Social Security benefits, the draft SADC Youth Employment Promotion Policy Framework.

He further said the meeting was to discuss the code on TB in the mining sector and recommendations to improve labour statistics.

Mr Batshu said Batswana pride themselves in peace, unity and tranquility that had prevailed over the  50 years of independence as well as the developments made during that time hence thanking the SADC community for the support they had accorded Botswana.

In his remarks Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) executive secretary, Mr Austin Muneku, said it was worrisome that in this era, there were workers who went for several months without pay creating a growing army of poor and destitute workers.

He noted that unemployment levels were higher among the youth and women compared to their male counterparts adding that the SADC region faced severe decent work deficit in the coming years.

Mr Muneku said SADC region was witnessing the increasing de-industrilisation and declined industrial output with thousands of workers being left jobless and without any social protection. ENDS