05 Jun 2016

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu says government accords high priority to eradication of extreme poverty and creation of employment.

A press release from the ministry says in addressing the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday June 3 Mr Batshu said government has embarked on a double pronged strategy of extreme poverty eradication by 2017 and an economic stimulus package to boost job creation.

Mr Batshu also told the conference that graduation out of poverty and creation of sustainable jobs are deemed critical for the realisation of a dignified life for citizens.

The release also says Minister Batshu further highlighted that Botswana’s slow growth, high levels of unemployment and limited resources as some of the challenges that hindered significant progress in achieving objectives of eradicating extreme poverty.

The conference also heard that government has made substantial progress in the war against poverty as the country accords high priority to the eradication of extreme poverty and creation of employment.

Further, Minister Batshu told the conference poverty eradication remains the main priority in the Revised Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) which was adopted at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Employment and Labour Sector Meeting of Ministers and Social Partners held in Botswana last month (May 9-12).

He added that to translate such priority into implementation, SADC has since adopted the Regional Poverty Reduction Framework.
Meanwhile, the conference was held under the theme, Building a future with decent work.

Often called an international parliament of labour, the conference aims to establish and adopt international labour standards.

The meeting also discusses key social and labour issues.

It also adopts the organisation’s budget and elects the governing body, which Botswana is currently part of and it brings together a tripartite of governments workers and employers delegates of the ILO member states. ENDS