20 Mar 2019

 Parliament has been advised to review the Employment Act in order to provide for paternity leave.

 Contributing to the debate on 2019/2020 budget proposals on Industrial Court, Selebi Phikwe West legislator, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse stated that there should be legal obligation that entitled fathers to take a short period of leave following the birth of a child to provide help and support to the mother.

Mr Keorapetse said government should recognise the importance of dual parenting from early childhood in an effort to support family responsibilities even in the workplace. He said it was disturbing that the ‘country does not have the paternity leave provision despite the country’s position in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO).’

He also pleaded with government to extend the maternity leave to 14 weeks and also remunerate mothers’ on maternity leave full salary as per the ILO maternity protection conversion of 2000.

He added that men were willing to support their spouses during pregnancy and early child care but the unavailability of the paternity leave provision however incapacitated all their efforts and also denied the child to strongly bond with their fathers from birth.

MP Keorapetse also asked for the amendment of the Trade Dispute Act which classified teachers as essential service, highlighting that inclusive of certain professions as essential services was done not in good faith as it deprived them some of their rights and was against some of the ILO requirements.

With regard to the Industrial Court, the Selibe Phikwe legislator highlighted that it was irregular for the Industrial Court to be a creation of the Trade Dispute Act, arguing that it must be a creation of the constitution because it is a specialized division of the high court.

He said it was important that the Industrial Court be moved from the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development and be a specialized court under the Ministry of Justice Defence and Security.

 Mr Keorapetse stated that Industrial court judges should also be appointed in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

MP for Lerala-Maunatlala, Mr Prince Maele pleaded for more staffing of Industrial Court judges saying there were backlog of cases with only nine judges in the Industrial court benches.

Mr Maele also called for the establishment of circuit courts across the country that would assist in promptly attending to labour related disputes.

Member of Parliament for Gabane-Mmankgodi, Major General Pius Mokgware decried of unfair mediation during labour disputes. Maj Gen. Mokgware contended that the labour mediators turn to be biased in their mediators as they connive with employers at the expense of employees during mediations processes. ENDS