01 May 2018

Government is committed to deepening the scope of engagement with workers and employers to create a conducive working environment.

In his speech, read by Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi on International Labour Day yesterday (May 1), President Mokgweetsi Masisi implored workers to interrogate their role and participation in pursuit of social and economic development at the global, regional and national levels.

He noted that the theme; Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement, was in line with the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number eight, which aimed to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full of productive employment and decent work for all.

Further, he said the theme was in line with Botswana’s Vision 2036 Pillar one on Sustainable Economic Development, which was underpinned by diversified, inclusive and sustainable growth driven by high levels of productivity.

For this to be achieved, he said, the National Development Plan 11 prioritised economic growth, employment creation and poverty eradication.

Mr Masisi stated that creating a conducive working environment that would produce a productive workforce capable of generating national wealth was ongoing as government was in the process of reviewing labour laws.  

The legislative framework, he said, was a mammoth task that could only be achieved through meaningful engagement between the employer and the employee.

He noted that workplace issues were better addressed through tripartite structures which included government, business and labour as well as other stakeholders specifically established for that purpose.

He said engagement outside the established structures could be detrimental to the workers’ rights and relationships.

President Masisi further said workers issues should not be politicised.

“Let us avoid unnecessary influences that could contaminate the cordial and symbiotic relationships that are capable of taking this country to greater heights for the benefit of current and future generations,” he said.

May 1, he said, marked the international Labour Day, which was celebrated the world over with its origins dating as far back as 1860s during the height of Industrial Revolution in the US.

During that time, he said, workers in America launched a vigorous and sustained campaign to improve their conditions of employment, advocating against exploitation practices in the workplace.

During the time, he said, many workplaces were characterised by forced labour, extremely long working hours, rampant child labour, unsafe and unhealthy working environments and absence of defined job descriptions.

To this end, he said, Botswana had made noticeable progress that has been made in labour reforms to eradicate such ills, which reforms included adoption of an eight-hour work day.

Other achievements, he said, were on promotion of worker’s rights as evidenced by Botswana signing various International Labour conventions and instruments. ENDS