13 Mar 2018

Parliament has been informed that the labour inspection conducted at Doosan Company on March 9 has revealed that employees were made to perform work that is markedly different from what they were originally engaged to perform.

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo said consequently, management was directed to stop the practice and comply with the contracts that employees were originally hired to perform.

Mr Mabeo told Parliament on Monday that indeed Doosan employees had entered into one or two months contracts with their employer and some had been experiencing that since 2015. He indicated that there were several types of contracts which parties could enter into.

“These are fixed term contracts; with regard to time or specified piece of work and open ended contracts usually called permanent contracts of employment and such contracts are legal and in accordance with the Employment Act Cap 47:01,” he said.

In addition, he said Doosan had entered into fixed term contracts of one or two months with their employees.

He pointed out that the law was silent as to the permissible period for fixed term contracts.

He however highlighted that management had been advised to align the employees’ contracts with the project period in the interest of fair labour practice and decent work.

The minister further said the labour inspection also revealed that the electrical manager at the company, ‘who is a non-citizen, makes employees to pay him in order to renew their contracts.’

Parliament heard that the company was instructed to take disciplinary action against the employee.

“Meanwhile, the process of cancellation of his work permit has started as his conduct is unacceptable,” he added.

In addition, he explained that the labour inspections also revealed that all departments in the company were headed by non-citizens.

However, the employer had been directed to draw a training and localisation plan in order to facilitate transfer of skills to citizen employees.

Minister Mabeo was responding to a question in Parliament asked by Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, who wanted to know if the minister was aware that the management of Doosan Company in Palapye was abusing workers.

MP Mmolotsi further asked if the minister was aware that employees were made to work for one or two months contracts and some had been experiencing that since 2015, while some employees were made to pay their bosses every month in order to avoid being fired and that all departments were managed by foreigners. ENDS