24 Mar 2019

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Mr Eric Molale says employment for 67 former employees of Jwaneng Debswana mine was terminated due to medical reasons.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Molale said 28 of the employees had been compensated, while 39 had not yet been compensated. He said six of the uncompensated were in the process of being paid and 33 were still in dispute. He stated that mine management was consulting with the ex-employees through the Botswana Mine Workers Union to collect and collate information and validate evidences.

He indicated that among those in dispute were cases where the quantum recommended by the medical practitioners was queried by the employees as inadequate, those rejected because of lack of evidence and where expert medical opinions disputes that the condition was occupation induced.

MP for Jwaneng-Mabutsane Mr Shawn Nthaile had asked the minister to update on the status of former employees of Debswana Diamond Company at Jwaneng Mine, whose employment was terminated due to medical reasons and were still owed various benefits since 2013. Ends