21 Mar 2018

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo has raised concern about the increasing number of trade disputes received by his ministry.

Presenting the ministry’s budget proposal for the 2018/19 financial year in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Mabeo said a total of 8 475 trade disputes were registered in the period between April 2017 and January 2018.

He further stated that 1 177 cases were brought forward from the previous financial year, bringing the total number of trade disputes to 9 562.

He pointed out that 4 121 disputes were settled through mediation while 1 361 were referred to the Industrial Court.

He said benefits paid to aggrieved employees following the mediation of trade disputes during that period amounted toP3.3 million.

“The increasing number of trade disputes reported remains a matter of concern to my ministry as it reflects failure by employers and employees in various sectors of the economy to resolve their grievances and disputes at the workplace. This greatly compromises labour relations and productivity. There is therefore a dire need to strengthen social dialogue between employers and employees,” Mr Mabeo said.

He said the ministry had continued to disseminate information on labour laws during labour inspections to empower employers and employees.

He added that they had conducted 2 255 labour inspections and 124 business monitoring exercises between April 2017 and January 2018. 

He said common contraventions noted during inspections were failure to insure workers, to keep employment records and to observe lawful hours of work.

He said 22 businesses which were not compliant with the law were referred to the Botswana Police Service for prosecution.

He proposed a total budget of more than P711.6 million for his ministry for 2018/19 financial year, which comprised of P679.4 million in recurrent expenditure and P32.2 million in development estimates.

From the recurrent expenditure, he said P135.2 million would be allocated to the ministry’s headquarters while the Department of Labour and Social Security would get P48.6 million.

He added that the Department of Occupational Health and Safety would be allocated P12.4 million while the Department of Skills Development would be given the largest share of P483.1 million.

He said P14.7 million from the development budget would be used for ICT development such as the procurement of computers for 38 brigades across the country, computerization of the Botswana National Productivity Centre, Botswana Employment System, and the National Service Excellence Framework.

He further said P13.5 million from the development budget would be spent on maintenance of brigades while P4 million would be used for fleet expansion.

Debating the budget proposal approved on Tuesday, MP for Sefhare-Ramokgonami, Ms Dorcas Makgato said farm workers in her constituency have raised many complaints concerning their ill treatment at the work place.

She thus asked the ministry to construct a labour office in Sefhare village where they could register their complaints.

Dr Phenyo Butale of Gaborone Central called for establishment of a national employment agency to focus on ensuring that businesses understand government policies regarding labour matters and the businesses responsibilities concerning workers’ rights.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskings Nkaigwa called for the blacklisting of companies which fail to pay their employees after winning government tenders.

Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu expressed concern about conditions at Tutume Brigade, noting that classrooms and workshops at the brigade had been without electricity for over one year. He also called for the replacement of the old machinery at the brigade. ENDS