28 Mar 2019

Government is engaged in consultation with the representatives of employers and employees with a view to amend labour laws to close gaps in such laws as identified by the courts.

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo said this when responding to a question in Parliament on March 28.

Mr Mabeo said such consultation would further address issues of compliance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions ratified by Botswana and also facilitate doing business in Botswana.

The minister indicated that the issue of allowing employees of Botswana Prisons Services to unionise formed part of the consultative process, adding that he could not pre-empt the outcome of the consultations.

MP for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had asked the minister to state the steps taken towards implementing the 2018 ILO recommendations that Botswana Prisons Service employees be allowed to unionise for fulfillment of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87). Ends