25 Jul 2013

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu is concerned about the 41 per cent of unresolved cases registered with the Industrial Court.

He, however, commended the court for having managed to dispose 59 per cent of cases registered with them. Speaking at the just-ended Labour Conference for Judicial Officers in Kasane, Minister Batshu called upon Industrial Court judiciary and staff to find ways to push the success rate even higher.

This, he said, should be done with the view of providing a speedy resolution of labour disputes and achieve the Vision 2016 pillar of an open, democratic and accountable nation, as well as the vision goal for the rule of law.

He underscored the importance of a speedy resolution of labour disputes in achieving the second leg of the court’s mandate, which was to help promote good industrial relations.  Mr Batshu pleaded with the judges of the Industrial Court to deal speedily with cases involving entitlement disputes of severance pay, leave days, rest periods, overtime and withheld salary.

“There is no doubt that denying employees who have earned severance benefits and overtime or leave days their benefits impoverishes them, the reverse is also true,” he said.

Ensuring that employees were paid their severance or terminal benefits when due or shortly after they become due improves the employees’ financial wellbeing and helps reduce poverty amongst them, he added. Mr Batshu reminded judges of President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s crusade against poverty eradication.

“I wish to remind you that you can do your bit to reduce poverty by ensuring that cases involving such entitlement disputes are resolved speedily, when they come before your esteemed court for trial,” Mr Batshu advised. He told judges that they should not forget their oath and the fact that the employer was also a party who was entitled to justice.

Industrial Court president, Justice Tebogo Maruping said in an interview that the conference had resolved that the Industrial Court be the only place for settling labour disputes, thereby ending the current system of concurrent jurisdiction where the High Court was at liberty to also preside over such matters. This, he said, would curb forum shopping and inconsistencies.  ENDS