31 Jan 2019

Negotiations for public service salaries commenced January 31 following January 28 ’s finalisation of preparations and administrative logistics.

A press release from the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) says the negotiating parties, being government and public sector unions, have exchanged position papers and  finalised as well as  agreed on rules of negotiation.

According to the release, negotiating parties have also agreed to appoint an independent chairperson, neither from government nor unions, for the duration of the negotiation period.

The following six unions, under the chairmanship of Mr Felix Lesetedi, will negotiate as a block, in order to expedite the process; Botswana Public Employees Union, National Amalgamated Local, Central Government and Parastatal Workers Union, Botswana Teachers Union, Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union, Botswana Land Board, Local Authorities and Health Workers Union and Botswana Nurses Union.

As part of the rules of negotiation, the release says, both parties have agreed that whenever the need arises, a joint media statement, signed by the two deputy chairpersons of their representatives, will be released.

Chief negotiators for the employer party and the union party are Dr Theophilus Mooko and Mr Tobokani Rari, respectively.

“The long awaited PEMANDU report was received by government on January 25, 2019 and shared with all public sector unions on  January 29, 2019.

However, it has not been processed by the relevant structures of the two parties, but can be used to inform the process,” says the release.

It also states that the report does not represent government’s position. ENDS