15 Aug 2013

Parliament has passed the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi (Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (No.15 of 2013; the Botswana Qualifications Authority Bill, 2013 (No. 12 of 2013; as well as the Human Resource Development Council Bill, 2013 (No. 13 of 2013).

When presenting the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi (Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (No.15 of 2013), the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, said the object of the bill was to amend Cap 02:08 to enable the implementation of the government decision to award members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi three per cent basic salary adjustment with effect from October 1, 2012.

Mr Masisi explained that the salaries and allowances for members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi were not adjusted following government’s decision to adjust public service basic salaries by three per cent across board with effect from October.

“Government has now seen it prudent to award members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi the 3% basic salary adjustment retrospectively from 1 October 2012,” he said.

He said the remuneration of members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi was provided for by an act of Parliament and therefore had to be amended every time government adjusted salaries for the members.

The Botswana Qualifications Authority Bill sought to provide the establishment of Botswana Qualifications Authority in order to provide for qualifications framework services and for matters incidental thereto, while the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Bill seeks to establish a HRDC and provide for its powers and functions.

The HRDC would also provide for the promotion and funding of workplace training, human resource development planning and funding of tertiary education institutions and for matters connected or incidental thereto.

Parliament also adopted the Draft National Library Policy 2013 which will go on for a second reading. Ends