01 May 2019

Peace in Botswana should translate into decent living.

University of Botswana senior lecturer in public education, Dr Dama Mosweunyane said this during Labour Day commemoration in Gaborone May 1.

He called on trade unions to make valuable contribution towards upholding peace through promotion of the rights of the workers.

Dr Mosweunyane said citizens yearned for a Botswana whose economy could empower them technologically and develop an agro-industrial system to produce enough for every Motswana.

Furthermore, he said it was disturbing that the rich continued to benefit from unscrupulous maneuvers for economic power and disempowerment of the workers.

Dr Mosweunyane called for Occupational and Safety Act to better the working conditions of the workers in all sectors of the economy.

MP for Gaborone Central, Dr Phenyo Butale commended workers for coming together to recognise the importance of the dignity of labour.

Dr Butale said it was important for workers to honour the day that marked their sustainable productivity and celebrate the role they played in national economic growth and development as well as re-strategise on best ways to improve welfare of the working class.

He further called on government to adopt major international regulations on promoting labour rights as well as to put into practice the Employment Act in order to protect workers’ rights.

Dr Butale called on government to capacitate the industrial courts for them to be effective in dealing with labour issues. 

He also encouraged labour movements to work collectively and speak in one voice in order to amplify issues that affected the workforce. ENDS