05 Mar 2019

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo, says review of the Employment Act and Trade Unions and Employers Organisation Act commenced in January 2017.

Answering a question in Parliament from MP for Nkange, Mr Edwin Batshu, Minister Mabeo said the review process was facilitated by experts from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and was still ongoing since it entailed several consultation processes.

Mr Mabeo indicated that the Trade Disputes Act and the Public Service Act had also been added to the list of laws to be reviewed.

He explained that the inclusion of those was necessitated by commitment of government and social partners to address gaps that existed in the Acts, facilitate doing business, incorporate various decisions of the courts of Botswana and address

recommendations of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) for compliance with international labour standards.

“This is a major reform to the labour laws of this country and consultations are being extended beyond the tripartite constituents,” he said.

The minister said the committee had made progress and it was envisaged that all stakeholders would have agreed on singular position by end of May 2019, after which the bills would be drafted.

On the Factories Act Cap 44:01 of 1973,  Mr Mabeo said, “the Act makes provision for the regulation of the conditions of employment in factories and other places in regard to safety, health and welfare of the persons employed therein and for the safety and inspection of certain plant6 and machinery.

He told the House that Cabinet approved the drafting of the Bill to review the Factories Act in November 2017, whilst the ministry was still consulting relevant stakeholders, after which the Attorney General”s Chambers would be provided with instructions doe drafting the bill before end of June this year.

Mr Batshu had asked the minister to share with Parliament progress made in reviewing the Employment Act, Trade Unions and Employer’s Organisations Act and Factories Act in order to close gaps. ENDS