26 Apr 2017

The Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development is to host an employment and skills development pitso on May 4-5 in Selibe Phikwe, and the Vice President is scheduled to officiate.
Addressing the media, Minister Tshenolo Mabeo said the purpose of the pitso was to consult and solicit proposals and ideas from the industry and labour on how to facilitate economic growth through employment creation.
He further said the pitso was meant to engage the industry on issues surrounding skills development, productivity and creation of sustainable jobs.

“Target participants for this pitso are government, labour movements, businesses and young entrepreneurs,” he said.
Speaking on some of the developments in his ministry, Mr Mabeo said they weere in the process of establishing a department responsible for ensuring that all sectors of the economy become productive and efficient.
“This department will work with BNPC to promote productivity initiatives across both the public and private sector,” he said, adding that BNPC has been pursuing several productivity initiatives among them customer care training in the tourism sector, smart work ethics and women entrepreneurship development programme.

He said the government continued to make strides to leverage education to improve the quality of life for Batswana through skills development.
“Government is doing so by creating a conducive environment that enables facilitation of job creation for sustainable economic growth and this will be achieved through rapid skills development,” said Mr Mabeo.
In terms of improving legislation relating to employment, Mr Mabeo said the ministry was also working on reviewing the Trade Unions and Employers Organisations Act and Employment Act.
He said the ministry has also established an employment bureau in line with its approved ministerial structure.

“The purpose of establishing the bureau is to ensure that employment data and skills available are accessible to employers for ease of recruitment.”
Mr Mabeo said while the ministry was making efforts to facilitate employment creation, there were challenges of high number of retrenchments.
“As at December 2016, a total of 4 169 retrenchments were recorded. The ministry continues to engage employers on this issue to seek lasting solutions,” he said.
He further said through the rapid skills development, 478 students completed training and that 305 of them had been employed.
“These rapid skills training are offered at Construction Industry Trust Fund and Madirelo Training and Testing Centre,” said the minister.
Mr Mabeo said in an effort to bridge the ministry’s communication gap and strengthen the ministry’s interaction platform with its stakeholders, they have created a facebook page (Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, BW) and a toll free number (0800 600 186). ENDS