07 May 2018

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Moiseraele Goya says government is still looking into the issue of granting prison service trade union rights.

Mr Goya, who was speaking recently at the 14th Botswana Federation of Trade Union (BFTU) elective congress in Palapye, said government was still exploring the issue to balance the security concerns and the right of employees.

“You have noted with disappointment that the recent amendments to the Trade Disputes Act once again did not permit the granting of trade union rights to prison staff. We are also aware of the ILO position on the matter and various requests by ILO committees of experts for rectification of the issue,” he said.

Mr Goya, who is also MP for Palapye, reiterated that the current position of the government was that the prison service was part of the security agencies and therefore could not be granted trade union rights.

He said government was still exploring a balance such that it did not endanger the security situation in the quest to granting freedom of association, especially the vacuum that could be caused by a strike by prisons staff.

Mr Goya further said government did not see anything wrong with prisons staff being granted the right to bargain, while they were denied the right to strike on the other hand.

He added that government intended to mend relations with trade unions both in the public service and private sector.

He said both sides have a duty to initiate dialogue and to resolve any pending issues.

He added that government intended to improve on social dialogue and collective bargaining mechanisms and processes.

He said government hoped to engage more with the labour movement and to build common platforms towards ensuring a win-win situation. “We do not want anyone to be left behind in this journey of development,” said Mr Goya.

He said in some cases the Department of Labour should also engage business in bipartite dialogue to explore common ground before engaging government. He noted that “the government cannot force labour and businesses to come to the table.”

Regarding the national economic and social dialogue, he said the old structures of economic and social dialogue were under review through a consultancy carried out by BIDPA, with the participation of BFTU and BOFEPUSU.

Mr Goya also confirmed that government has taken note of labour’s concern regarding an independent dispute resolution system, adding that “this is an issue we are in agreement.”

He said the issue of an independent labour commissioner was not in dispute.

“Perhaps what is needed is a benchmarking process through the responsible ministry,” he said. ENDS