22 Nov 2017

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo says the decent work agenda seeks to promote employment, social protection and rights at work.

Speaking at the Decent Work Country Programme workshop (DWCP) on November 21, Mr Mabeo said DWCPs remained the main vehicles for delivery of International Labour Organisations (ILO) support to countries in an endeavour to promote decent work as a key component of national development strategies.

He noted that the workshop brought together stakeholders to reflect on the current DWCP for Botswana, determine new priorities and articulate expected outcomes and activities.

Mr Mabeo decried that Botswana faced challenges in efforts to pursue social and economic development.

“The demands for the provision of services and benefits are numerous, albeit limited resources,” he said.

“I hope that during your deliberations, you will be alive to these challenges and take them into consideration as you begin the process of developing the new DWCP, and come up with priorities and outcomes (that will) determine a clear path for implementation and monitoring of goals and objectives,” he said.

He indicated that the notable achievement of the current DWCP was the considerable process made towards the development of policies that were planned.

“Most importantly, the National Occupational Health and Safety, National Policy on Wellness and Disease Management in the World of Work, and the National Occupational Health and Safety Policy are the stages of decision-making by the government,” said Mabeo.

He said the implementation of the current programme was not without challenges, notably lack of capacity among the social partners emerged as the main obstacle to meaningful progress in the implementation of the programme.

He further said for this country to come up with an implementable programme, there was need for dedication and leadership among the tripartite constituents.

“Employers, workers and government have formidable strength that is born out of tripartism.

If only this strength can be harnessed positively, we stand a good chance of succeeding in attaining our goals,” he added.

Minister Mabeo thanked ILO and the entire United Nations family for the support in coming up with national priorities and outcomes aligned to strategic results frameworks of organisations, which aim at making the world a better place for all.

The national vision requires people to undergo total transformation and it exhorts to introspect at individual, community, business enterprise, political, social and professional level, thus encouraging resilient and leadership, he added. ENDS