14 Aug 2016

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Mr Kitso Mokaila says there is no pending dispute between the BCL employees and management.

Answering a question in Parliament on August 10, Mr Mokaila said BCL conducts its business in accordance with the laws of Botswana and collective agreements between the BCL and the Botswana Mine Workers Union policies, regulations and its organisational values.

“Disputes when they occur follow due process that includes up to being registered with the district labour office for intervention,” he said.

BCL has a disciplinary and grievance procedure that is followed in any case of misconduct and the union is the signatory to such a procedure, he added.

The minister said managing discipline in the work place occurs for different types of misconduct including safety related transgressions. “Conducting a disciplinary investigation is the foundation of effective management of discipline and any formal disciplinary action in always preceded by thorough investigation of the incident,” he said.

Mr Mokaila noted that ‘counselling is a standing service to all employees through BCL Mine hospital through the Wellness Department’ adding that the special counselling sessions were offered and continued to be offered to all employees who are affected by all incidents that occur in the mine.

He said that the mine has six competent counsellors who are dedicated to such a service and are full time employees of BCL and they offer counselling to the bereaved families especially after fatal incidents at no cost.

With regards to measures to bring these incidents to naught, he said, it was a concern and a worrisome situation because BCL has a robust Occupational, Health and Safety management systems and policies in place which had been demonstrated by achieving continuous reduction in the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate year on year.

MP for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister if he was aware of the pending dispute between BCL workers and management, if it was true that the workers had been called for a disciplinary action and what was the cause of the dispute.

Mr Moswaane also wanted to know if there had been an investigation carried out before the disciplinary hearing and if so, what the findings were and if the report was available for kind perusal by Parliament. 

In addition, he wanted the minister to state if there had been counselling offered to miners considering numerous shaft incidents in the mine, and the safety measures that had been employed to bring those accidents to naught.

The Francistown West legislator also asked if faulty shaft lifts could be the reason for the stand-off between miners and management. ENDS