09 Jul 2019

Twenty six people living with disabilities have been employed in the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, says Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development Mr Tshenolo Mabeo.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Mabeo said  that out of the 26 disabled people employed, one has albinism. Further, Minister Mabeo said  that the types of disabilities ranged from hearing and vision impairment, intellectual, physical and psychiatric disabilities.

He said 13 are male and 13 are female officers and that the dates of engagements range from 1991 to date.

Mr Mabeo said the officers were based in different ministry departments, brigades and technical colleges in various stations across the country.

The  Department of Skills Development headquarters, he said, has two officers, Department of Occupational Health & Safety headquarters has one, Department of Corporate Services also has one officer and Maun Labour Office has one officer, Gaborone Regional Labour office has two, Department of Labour Social Security headquarters and Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) each has one officer living with disability.

Mr Mabeo said his ministry was in compliance with UN Sustainable Development Goals and contributed to attainment of SDG 8 Target 8.5 of achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities and equal pay for work of equal values. Further, he said his ministry had also published a Code of Good Practice for employees with disabilities in terms of Trade Dispute Act (2008) in an attempt to improve inclusiveness of people with disabilities in the work place.

Mr Mabeo was answering a question from Specially Elected Member of Parliament Mr Mephato Reatile who had asked the minister to state the number of people living with disabilities and albinism who were employed in his ministry.

He also asked if the number of people employed met the country’s target of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ENDS