Parliament debates motion on living wage policy
19 Feb 2018
Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile says it is high time government introduce a decent living wage policy as it will have huge societal and economic benefits and help government in its poverty eradication efforts.
Tabling a motion before parliament 0n Friday seeking government to introduce a decent living wage policy, Mr Nthaile said this would afford families a decent and dignified life, which would also promote health and wellness.
Unlike a minimum wage, Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP said with a decent living wage, families would afford better standards of living, because they would be able to afford basic requirements of everyday life, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, health and education.
“As it is currently, with the minimum wage, even after working 30 years most people cannot do anything for themselves due to the low wages they earned all those years,” he said.
Debating the on-going motion, Specially Elected MP, Mr Eric Molale said the motion was good, but requested Mr Ntlhaile to consider stating the suitable amount of a decent living wage that he had in mind, as he did not indicate it in his motion.
However, Mr Molale said with the current minimum wage government was offering, there were also social welfare allowances and other subsidies for low-income workers, such as, free education and health services. For that reason, he said introducing a decent living wage might force government to increase fees paid for education and health services.
Contributing on the debate, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the minimum wage as offered by Botswana government was too low to afford Motswana a decent life after retirement.
“Government should do away with this minimum wage and introduce a decent living wage policy, because the best thing we can do for ourselves is to pay our people well,” he added.
Specially Elected MP, Mr Kitso Mokaila said the issue of introduction of a decent living wage was an important matter that should be debated and handled with seriousness, ‘it is not an issue that should be brought up only to lure votes.’
“It is also my wish for employees to be paid a decent living wage, but it is also our concern and responsibility as MPs to guard our country’s economy and welfare of our people,” he said.
“The International Monetary Fund has long advised government to reduce the public service so that we can afford to remunerate employees accordingly, but as considerate as it is, government did not heed this call because we do not want any employee to lose their job,” he said. Ends
Source : BOPA
Author : Lorato Gaofiseas
Location : GOODHOPE
Event : Parliament
Date : 19 Feb 2018
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