12 Feb 2019

In order to protect employees during liquidation, government has ratified ILO Convention No. 173 on Protection of Workers Claims (Employers Insolvency).

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, said the convention provided for higher prioritisation of workers’ claims against other creditors in the event of the insolvencies.

Mr Mabeo said the Employment Act was amended by adding Section 91 A (1) to protect employees and therefore ‘my ministry is not considering introducing any scheme.’

“Given the above provisions of the Employment Act, my ministry will not support a Private Member’s Bill or motion on the same,” he said.

The MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister if he was aware of the importance of a Fair Entitlement Guarantee Scheme in providing financial assistance for workers who had not been fully paid for work done in the event of liquidations and other purposes.

Mr Keorapetse said if the minister was aware, he should state if his ministry would consider emulating such a scheme and whether he was amenable to acceding to a Private Members Bill or motion on the same. ENDS