07 Aug 2018

Statistics Botswana and the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development (MELSD) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which too will serves as a catalyst in the provision of accurate and relevant employment and national policy formulation.

Addressing members of the media on Monday, statistician general Dr Burton Mguni said the two entities would collaborate in innovative data processing, disseminating and statistical capacity building.

He said the partnership would provide for evidence based decision-making, monitoring and evaluation.

He said the MoU was also aimed at helping in vital operations such as business data collection including expenditure, income and employment data used for statistical operations and compilation.

He emphasised that the statistics would serve as a major source of data for supporting the National Development Plan (NDP 11) for tracking Botswana’s attainment.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), descent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, quality education and industry, innovation and infrastructure, were also identified as indicator sectors that would benefit from the partnership.

Dr Mguni said employment creation, as one of the national priorities, would also benefit, adding that statistics on employment levels were of national importance as they inform on decisions, policies, programmes and interventions to create and diversify employment opportunities.

“Statistics Botswana has placed great priority on increasing the periodicity of producing employment and unemployment rates and other labour statistics to move from every five years to every quarter of a calendar starting in 1st quarter of 2019,” he added.

Therefore, he said it was expected that the employment data obtained directly by the ministry would be used to complement and assure quality on the survey data collection by Statistics Botswana.

He said the National Statistical System sector led by the ministry was one of those that have been enrolled early into the Botswana Strategy for the Development of Statistics (BSDS) 2015-2020, adding that the partnership would help in enhancing the use of official statistics in the country.

Dr Mguni added that the signing reflected the importance of joining efforts to overcome obstacles that faced the production of official economic, socio-demographic, environmental, governance and other statistics as well as strengthening administrative support and capacity building in meeting the increasing demand for the statistics.

For her part, ministry permanent secretary, Ms Pearl Ramokoka urged the parties to approach the work with commitment and diligence it deserved.

Ms Ramokoka said collection, monitoring and evaluation of statistics had an impact on policy development, noting that it was important that both parties provide timely, accurate and relevant employment, labour productivity, skills development and other related statistics.

She added that a joint sectoral committee was formed and trained to facilitate the execution of duties and joint responsibilities. ENDS